LETTERS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 STUDY and USE 
 
 O F 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 By the late RIGHT HONORABU 
 
 HENRr ST. JOHN, 
 LORD VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 
 
 A NEW EDITION Correded. 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed for T. C A D E L L. 
 
 MDCCLXX.
 
 I) 
 
 i ' J 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 QF thejiudy cf hijiory. Page 3 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Concerning the true vfe and advantages 
 of it. p. 1 1 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 i. // objection againft the utility of bijiory 
 removed. 2. The falfe and true aims of 
 tbofe who Jiudy it. 3. Of tie hijiory cf 
 the frfr age s , with reflexions on tbejiatc 
 of anticnt hijiory, profane and facrcd. 
 
 P- 43 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 I. 'That there is in hijiory fufficient authen- 
 ticity to render it ufcful, notwitbjlanding 
 ail objections to the contrary. 2. Of the 
 method and due rejirittions to be obferied in 
 thejiudy of it. P- 95 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 r . 'The great ufe cf bijiory, properly fo called, 
 S diftinguijked from the writings cf mere 
 annalifts and antiquaries. 2. Greek and 
 Roman kijl or tans. 3. Seme idea of a com- 
 plete hijiory. 4. Further cautions to be 
 cbfervtd in this fiudy, and the regulation 
 cf it according to the different frofej/ions, 
 A and
 
 C O N* T E N T S. 
 
 ard Jil nations cf ;;.v;; : t:i'*'j! all, tie ufc 
 to be made cf :l ' I v h\ d.i'ir:.^ urd ' 2 } by 
 tbcfe iiL't <;;r u'.i.td :<* :hf jC. i.tf if tbeir 
 iCUK.'r\. y. i ly 
 
 LETTER ^'I. 
 
 frcm f j.-b;:! per::d ir.sd-;rr. bijL>y ;s fftul-.trly 
 ttfeful so lie fcw.cf tf v.ir iCuntiy, r.-:. 
 From ;h( cr.d c { tit f;i::?n:t.* <f;/;.'rv tc lie 
 frfjcnt. 'Ii>f tiivifun cf ibn ir.'.c :i>\e 
 partti:iL:r pcricili ; in <// Jit U n jlcUi. ,f 
 tbfiijhry <*,.' jlcte of 1. nn.pt -from lL;f 
 time. p. i^y 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Aftctcbof ibt Jiatc and bijicry of Europe fr cm 
 the r\r(r.ca:i .';r.;.'v, in one tbcujufltl fix 
 iuviii i d and fifty n:i:t, to the \ts.r cue .'icu- 
 jar.dj:x bur.dtcil and tigkty -eight, p. i c^ 7 
 
 L E T T E R VIII. 
 
 '7 be fame fnl>j?tl <cntir,:ted ft cm tbe yttir one 
 ticxfi-.r.djix /;..'; u/ and cglly-c.^il. 
 
 }' 2 55 
 LETTER I. 
 
 J f.\iu (<.r a ; emral Ijhiy tf Iwcpe. p. -jgl 
 
 L L T T i R II. 
 
 C' lii '^'.' c '>' rcl.rai.i :t c,':J ' ..-'-. . .oi
 
 O T H E 
 
 STUDY of H i s T o R v. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Chantelou inTourain', Nov. 6, I7J4* 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 I HAVE confidered formerly, with 1 
 good deal of attention, the fubject ort 
 which you command me to communicate 
 my thoughts to you i and I practifed in 
 thole days, as much as bufmels and plea- 
 lure alio'.vcd me time to do, the rules that 
 feemed to me ncceffciry to be obferved in 
 the itudy of hiftory. They were Very dif- 
 ferent from thole which \vriicrS on the lame 
 ilibjeft have recommended, and which arc 
 commonly practiied. But I coniefs to your 
 lordfhip, that tiiis ririrher gave me then^ 
 nor has given mefmce, anydiftruft of them, 
 T do not affect iingularity. On the con* 
 trarv, T rhink than A du;. deference i: to bt 
 )pinicn c : and tha; a due 
 A 2
 
 4 L E T T E R I. 
 
 compliant c \\ith received cultams is to be 
 hrld ; tho both the one and the other fhould 
 be, what they often are, ablurd or ri- 
 diculous But this fervitadc is outward on- 
 ly, and abndpes in no fort the liberty of 
 private judgment. The obligations of lub- 
 mitting to it likewifr, even, outwardly, cx- 
 tcr.d no fuithcr, than ro thofc opinions and 
 cuitoms which cannot beoppofcd; or from 
 which \ve cannot deviate without doing 
 hurt, or giving oifcnce, to iociety. In aH 
 thelc talcs, our ipeculations ouglit to be 
 tree : in all other tales, our practice may be 
 lo. \Vithout any regard therefore to the 
 opin'.on and j r.uiite even of the learned 
 world, I am very willing ta tell you mine. 
 Bur, a.> it is fuird to recover a thread of 
 tho'.: L ;!;t long ^ c> laid aikle, and impufTiblc 
 to prove loir.c ihings, and explain others, 
 vviihouL the aifill^ncc of many books which 
 I have not here , your lordlhip mull be con- 
 t'. -:it with inch an imperfect Iketch, as I am 
 aulc to Icr.d you at j-rclent in this letter. 
 
 TML niotivf, that carry ir.cn to the iludy 
 01 ;,:f:ory au* J.:.':c:ent. Some intend, it inch 
 as they may b:- laid to (ludy, nothing more 
 than anu,lc;nc:;t, an.l irad t!ie life ofAki- 
 
 S.i:- 4 S or I'Hi'iIu.s, i;l 1 .l'.\ MINONDAS Or 
 
 ^. .i-io, Ai.i.x \.\:>LK or CAI.V\R, jull as 
 
 they
 
 Of the STUDY of HIST*Y. 5 
 
 they play a game at cards, or as they would 
 read the (lory ot the feven champions. 
 
 OTHERS there are, whofe motive to this 
 iludy is nothing better, and who have the 
 further disadvantage of becoming a nufance 
 very often to fociety, in proportion to the 
 progrefs they make. The tormer do not 
 improve their reading to any good purpofe : 
 the latter pervert i.t to a very bad one, and 
 grow in impertinence as they encreafe in 
 learning. I think I have known moft of 
 the firft kind in England, and moft of the 
 lad in France. The perfons I mean arc thofe 
 who read to talk, to fhine in converfation, 
 and to impofe in company : who having 
 few ideas to vend of their own growth, (lore 
 their minds with crude unruminatcd faifb 
 and fentences -, and hope to fupply, by bare 
 memory, the want of imagination and judg- 
 ment. 
 
 BUT thefe are in the two loweft form;. 
 The next I mail mention are in one a little 
 higher , in the form of thofe who grow nei- 
 ther wifer nor better by ftudy themfelves, 
 but who enable ethers to ftudy with greater 
 eafe, and to purpofes more ufeful , who make 
 fair copies of foul manufcripts, give the fig- 
 nification of hard words, and take a great deal 
 A 3 of
 
 6 LETTER!. 
 
 of othrr grammatical pains. The obligafioa 
 to theic men would bi- great indeed, if they 
 were in general able to do any thing better, 
 and fubmirted to this drudgery tor the 
 fake of the jT.blir ; as forrc cf them, it mult 
 be owned with platitude, have dune, but not 
 Inter, I think, than about the time of the re- 
 furrechon of letters. When works of im- 
 portance are prelTmg, generals themfelves 
 may take up die pick-axe and the Jpade , 
 but 5n the ordinary courfc! of things, when 
 th.if prefljr,;/. luxcflity is over, iuch tools arc 
 left in :he hands dcftincd to u!V them, the 
 hands of common loldiers and pealants. I 
 npprove theivforj very nv.-'ch the demotion 
 ot a fludious man at Chritl-Church, who 
 was over fjeard in hi> oratory entering into 
 a detail %s:'.h(!or', as devout perlons ;i;c 
 apt to do, anci, amon T fl urher particular 
 th.inkfji^v'i-.pN, arknowh d; ;nr the divine 
 poodr.rls in furnifhinp tin uoilri with 
 m.ikcrs of I")k : tiopi:ies ! "ihtlc :ren coi:'t 
 fa nie, ai well ns th?:: beiic>, l>y Inch 
 n^cans -is (io"> has ^-:\ en them t^ ;if quire 
 it: and I.rrn,i7<>v c.r:tfii all the ccr.ius 
 
 o 
 
 h'- ha:!, WM-ri ]<c !r..r!f u ir.' t;^.':.; } , t);o 
 . v :fntv, t':;! r.'.'. They Cf'rrve r;ucu- 
 ru r -cmenr, r. ;>.'. --vcr, \s). 1ft t'i^- c< ;>: :ru)c 
 to Cv.inj-ilc, an.; neither ..{*t\t u:r, i:c,r prc- 
 * r .;:r.r to ;ea o; lt
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 7 
 
 THERE is" a fourth clafs, of much lefs 
 life than thefe, but of much greater name. 
 Men of the firfl rank in learning, and to 
 whom the whole tribe of fcholars bow with 
 reverence. A man mud: be as indifferent 
 as I am to common cenfurc or approbation, 
 to avow a thorough contempt for the whole 
 bufmefs of thefe learned lives , for all the 
 refearches into antiquity, for all the fyftems 
 of chronology and hiftory, that we owe to 
 the immenfe labours of a SCALIGERJ 
 a BOCHART, a PETAVIUS, an USHER, and 
 even a MARSHAM. The fame materials 
 are common to them all , but thefe mate- 
 rials are few, and there is a moral impof- 
 fibility that they mould ever have more. 
 They have combined thefe into every form 
 that can be given to them : they have lup- 
 pofed, they have gucfTed, they have join- 
 ed disjointed paflages of different authors, 
 and broken traditions of uncertain origi- 
 nals, or various people, and of centuries 
 remote fro:n one another as well as from 
 ours. In ihort, that they might leave no 
 liberty untaken, even a wild fantastical fi- 
 militude or founds has ferved to prop up a 
 ivitem. As the naterials they h:we are few, 
 ib are the very belt, and fuch as pals for 
 authentic, cxrrernely precarious; as iome of 
 thele learned perlbns themlelvcs confefs. 
 
 A 4 JULIUS
 
 L E T T E R I. 
 
 AFRI.ANUS, EustBirs, and 
 GEORGE the monk opened the principal 
 fourccs of all thu fv.'.ence; but they cor- 
 rupted the watei . Ti.eir point of view 
 WAS to make p :ar.c Inllory and chronolo- 
 gy agree wuh laired ; tho the Kutcr chro- 
 nology is very tar from bcir.g eftabhfhed 
 \virh the rlcainels and certainty necefiary 
 to make it a rule. For this purpoic, the 
 ancient monuments, that ti.c:e writers con- 
 veyed to polU-nty, were digrfteci by them 
 according to the Ivfhm th<-y were to main- 
 tain: aiiJ none- of rhcie ir.)i.vimenis were 
 delivcreil down in their on^, r.il form, and 
 genuine purity. 1 he Dyr.afties of M.\- 
 KETHO, lor mllar.ce, arc broken 10 pieti:: 
 by EtsiEiCb, .Ui.l kii h jra^iiiC.'.ii (it 
 them as luircd hu de!lj. r n, arellriuk into 
 his work. We have, \se k.".ow, nori<ve 
 of lh'.:n. 'I'l.e Codex Altxandrimis \\e 
 owe [j Gi 'KC.. i!.e monk. We li.ive no 
 other ;.'.. ir. or. ;y ior it : ?.;.d one c..n."ut 
 l'-r vs. '.ivn. t ama^r n',er:t !. ci: a man .1 S,r 
 Jons' i\l /\ :::? -\ .: iindcrvaium^ tins a 'it. Mo- 
 nty in one paj:e, and bti,l(i;r, r ; his ivfh ai 
 up<>n it in the ;u-;a. He k:n> even by 
 the lightnels oi }us exprt (] 'on , it I remri.i- 
 bcr well, for it i r . \<,r.'j, f;r,ce I looked n;o 
 h; r canon, not to lc in .( h c^,.<err:ed wh.n 
 foundation i. . flU-m h.id, lo }- ; c
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 9 
 
 his (kill in forming one, and in reducing 
 the immenfe antiquity of the Egyptians 
 within the limits of the Hebraic calcula- 
 tion. In fhort, my lord, all thefe fyftems 
 are fo many enchanted caitles ; they appear 
 to be fomething, they are nothing but 
 appearances : like them too, diflblve the 
 charm, and they vanilh from the fight. 
 To diflblve the charm, we muft begin at 
 the beginning of them : the expreffion may 
 be odd, but it is fignifkant. We mult 
 examine fcrupuloufly and indifferently the 
 foundations on which they i'-an : and when 
 we find thefe either faintly probable, or 
 grolsly improbable, it would be foolilh to 
 expecl: any thing better in the fuperltruc- 
 ture. This fcience is one of thofcr that 
 are " a limine ialutandae." To do thus 
 much may be neceflary, that grave autho- 
 rity may not impofe on our ignorance : to 
 do more, would be to affift this very au- 
 thority in impofmg falfe fcience upon 
 us. I had rather take the DARIUS whom 
 ALEXANDER conquered, for the fon of 
 HYSTASPES, and make as many anachron- 
 ifms as a Jewifh chronologer, than facri- 
 fice half my life to collect all the learn- 
 ed lumber that fills the head of an anti- 
 quary. 
 
 LET-
 
 ( II ) 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 STUDY of HISTORY. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Concerning the true ufe and advan- 
 tages of it. 
 
 LE T me fay fomething of hiftory m 
 general, before I defcend into the 
 confideration of particular parts of it, or 
 of the various methods of ftudy, or of the 
 different views of thofe that apply them- 
 felves to it, as I had begun to do in my 
 former letrer. 
 
 THE love of hiftory Teems infeparablc 
 from human nature becaufe it feems inle- 
 parable from felf-love. The lame princi- 
 ple in this iriflance carries us forward and 
 backward, to future and to paft ages. We 
 imagine that the things, which affect us, 
 mult affect poiterity : this fentiment runs 
 through mankind, from CAESAR down to 
 
 the
 
 12 L E T T E R II. 
 
 the parifh clerk in POPL'S mifcellany. We 
 ate rorul of prelerving, as t.ir as it is in 
 our frail posscr, the memory ot our own 
 adventures, of thole of our own time, and 
 or" thole that preceded it. Kude heaps of 
 ftoiics have been raffed, and ruder hymns 
 have been i onipolcd, for this purpofc, by 
 nations who had not yet the ule of arts 
 and letters . To go no farther back, the 
 triumphs of ODIN were celebrated in runic 
 fong^ anJ the feats of our Britifh anccl- 
 tors weie recorded in thofe of their bards. 
 The iavagts of America have the lame 
 cuftom at this day : and long hiltorical 
 ballads of iruir huwings and r{>eir wars 
 arc lung at all their fcilivals. There i^ no 
 Bcvd ot faying how tliis pafiion grows, 
 among civilized nations, in proportion to 
 jhe means of gratifying it : but let us ob 
 fcrvc that the iarrc principle 01" lutn:-: 
 direcV, us ns llr r 'n^ly, and more generally 
 as well as ir.Tr varlv, to :ndu!:;e our ov. -i 
 cunoiity, iialead 01 preparing to gran:', 
 that oi other>. Thr child hearkens with 
 delight to the tales of his nurle : l.c Icarus 
 to rea<J, arid he dev ,ur> with e.ip,rrnefs 
 fabulfju. 1 . Ic.jcnv. 1 . . and novels : in r:j er year* 
 he applic:. hitVilclf to hillory, or to i!;. 4 i 
 W}JK! he tuk'- 1 lor hillory, to u'Jt 
 romance : ar.*', even in .ie the
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 1$ 
 
 fire of knowing what has happened to 
 other men, yields to the defirc alone of 
 relating what has happened to ourfelves. 
 Thus hiftory, true or falfe, fpeaks to our 
 pallions always. What pity is it,- my lord, 
 that even the heft ffaould fpeak to our 
 underftandirtgs fo fcldom ? That it docs 
 'b, we have none to blame but otfrfclves. 
 Nature has done her part. She has open- 
 ed this ftudy to every man who can read 
 and think : and what fhe has made the 
 inoft agreeable, reafori can make the moft 
 ufeful, application of our minds. But if 
 we conlult our rcafon, we ftrall be f:r from 
 following the examples of our fellow- 
 creatures, in this as in moil other cafes, 
 who are fo proud of being rational. We 
 ihall neither read to foothe our indolence, 
 nor to gratify our vanity : as little fliall we 
 content ourfelves to drudge like gramma- 
 rians and critics, that others may be able 
 to ftudy with greater cafe and profit, like 
 philofophers and ftatefmen : as little lhafcl 
 we affect the (lender merit of becoming 
 great fcholars at the expence of groping all 
 our lives in the dark mazes of antiquity. 
 All thefe miftake the true drift of ftudy, 
 and the true ufe of hiftory. Nature gave 
 us curiofity to excite the induftry of our 
 minds ; but fhe nevtr intended it fhould be 
 
 made
 
 i 4 L E T T E R II. 
 
 nude the principal, much Irli the fole, 
 object of their application. The true and 
 proper object of this application is a con- 
 Ilant improvement in pnvato and in pub* 
 lie virtue. An application to any Itudy, 
 that tends neither directly nor indiredlly 
 to make us better men and better citizens, 
 is at bell but a Ipecious and ingenious iort 
 of idleneh, to ufc an exprcilion or' TIL- 
 JLOTSON : and the knowledge we acquit - 
 by it is a creditable kind ot ignorance, 
 nothing nwre. 'I his creditable kind of 
 ignorance is, in my opinion, the whole 
 benefit which the generality ot lucn, even 
 of the molt learned, reap from the fh:dy of 
 hiftoiy: and yet the iiudy of hillory leems 
 to me, of all other, the mo 'I proper to L'ain 
 us up (.0 private and public v.nue. 
 
 YOI.-R U-riiihip may very well be ready 
 by this time, and uficr lo much bold cen- 
 lure on my part, to alk me, what then is 
 the true ufj i;f inllory ? in what rcljxrcts 
 it may ferve to make IK bcttei and w:fcr? 
 and what mcrhod is to be purlued in the 
 Jludy of it, for attaining thele great ends ? 
 J will anfwcr vou by ijuoiin^, what I have 
 lead fomcwhcrc or other, in Diosvaius 
 HALICA<N, I thin'., th.it iuitory is ph;lo- 
 iophy ica^lsin^ by example: . \Ve need bj;
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 15 
 
 to call our eyes on the world, and we mull 
 lee the daily force of example : we need 
 but to turn them inward, and we (hall 
 loon dilcover why example has this force. 
 44 Paiici prudentia," lays TACITUS, " ho- 
 " neita ab dcterioribus, utilia ab noxiis 
 44 difcernunt : plures aliorum eventis do- 
 44 centur." Such is the imperfection of 
 human understanding, luch the frail tem- 
 per of our minds, that abitraft or general 
 propofitions, tho ever fo true, appear ob* 
 fcure or doubtful to us very often, till the/ 
 are explained by examples : and that .the 
 wilelt lelfons in favour of virtue go but a 
 little way to convince the judgment, and 
 determine the will, unlefs they are enforced 
 by the fame means-, and we are obliged to ap- 
 ply to ourfelves what we fee happen to other 
 men. Inltruc'tions by precept have the fur- 
 ther difadvantage of coming on the autho- 
 rity of others, and frequently require a long 
 deduction of reafoning. " Homines amplius 
 *' oculis, quam auribus, credunt : longum 
 " iter eit per praecepta, breve et efficax 
 " per exempla." The reafon of this judg- 
 ment, which I quote from one of SZNECA'S 
 epiftles in confirmation of my own opinion, 
 reils, I think, on this ; that when examples 
 arc poinred out to us, there is a kind of ap- 
 peal, with which wt are flattered, made to 
 
 our
 
 i5 LETTER II. 
 
 our fcnfcs, as well as our understandings. 
 The infraction comes then upon our own 
 authority : we frame the precept after our 
 own experience, and yield to fact when we 
 rciilt {peculation. But this is not the only 
 advantage of induction by example-, for 
 example appeals not to our underftanding 
 tlone, but to our paffions likewiie. Exam- 
 ple allwr.fcs thcle, or animates them ; lct r . 
 paflion on the fu,c of judgment, and makes 
 the whole man -,r' a-piccc; which is more 
 than the irrongcit reaibning and the cleareft 
 demonflrauon can do : and thus forming 
 habits by repetition, example fecures the 
 oblervance of thole precepts which exam- 
 ple inlinuated. Is it not PMNY, my lord, 
 who lays that the gentlell, he fhould have 
 added the molt cftcCtual, way of command- 
 ing, is by example ? il Mitius jub^tiir cx- 
 41 imply." The harfhcll orders are lott- 
 cncd by example, and tyranny itlch be- 
 comes jxrrlualive. VN hat pity it H that 
 iu few princes liavc learned this way ot 
 commanding ? But again : the force ot 
 examples is not confined to thole alone, 
 that pals immediately under our fight ' 
 t:ic cxa;ripl;-% th..t memory lug'elts, have 
 t'.c lame ef:'cCt in thnr degree, and an 
 habit ot recalling them will luon produce 
 li.e habit oi imitating them. lr t :i::- lame 
 
 epiltlo
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 17 
 
 cpiitle, from whence I cited a paflfage juft 
 now, SENECA fays that CLEANTHES had ne- 
 ver become fo perfect a copy of ZENO, if 
 he had not palled his Life with him ; that 
 PLATO, ARISTOTLE, and the other philo* 
 fophers of that fchool, profited more by 
 the example, than by the difcourfe of So- 
 cRATts. [But here, by the way, SENECA 
 miitook; for SOCRATES died two years, ac- 
 cording to fome, and four years, according 
 to others, before the birth of ARISTOTLE : 
 and his miftake might come from the in- 
 accuracy of thofe who collected ibr him ; 
 as ERASMUS oblerves, after QUINTJLIAN, 
 in his judgment on SENECA.] But be this, 
 which was fcarce worth a parenthefis, as 
 it will; he adds that METRODORUS, HER- 
 MACHUS and POLYAENUS, men of greac 
 note, were formed by living under the Tame 
 roof with EPICURUS, noc by frequent- 
 ing his fchool. Thefe are inftanc.es of tho 
 force of immediate example. But your 
 lordfhip knows that the citizens of Rome 
 placed the images of their anceitors in the 
 veftibules of their houfes -, fo that, when- 
 ever they went in or out, theie venerable 
 bultoes met their eyes, and recalled the 
 glorious actions of the dead, to fire the liv- 
 ing, to excite them to imitate, and even to 
 emulate their great forefathers. The fuc- 
 B cefj
 
 i? L E T T E R II. 
 
 ccb anfwered the defign. The virtue of 
 one generation was transfufed, by the ma- 
 gic of exampk-, into lever a 1 : and a fpirit 
 of heroifm was maintained through many 
 ages ot that common-wealth. Now thde 
 are fo many instances of the force of re- 
 mote example; and from all thele inftances 
 we may conclude, that examples of both 
 kinds are nctdfary. 
 
 TMK fchool of example, my lord, is the 
 world : and the mailers of this fchool are 
 hiltory and experience. I am far from con- 
 tending that the former is preferable to the 
 latter. I think upon the whole orhcrwife : 
 but this I fay, that the former is ablolutr- 
 ly ncccfiary to prepare vis for the latter, 
 and to accompany us whilft we arc under 
 the difcipline of the latter, that K through 
 the whole couric ot our iivr^. No d^uln 
 fome few men may be quoted., to whom 
 nature gave what art am! indullry can </,ivc 
 to no man. But Inch examples \\ill prove 
 nothing againlt me, bccaulc I aiin.it that 
 the ftudy of hiftory, without experience, i^ 
 infufHctcnt , but a fieri, that fxpcriciM- Kil-lf 
 is fo without '.'cn:u-,. (icnuis r preferable 
 to thr oti'.tr two; but I \sou!d w;ili to Inid 
 t!ie thrcr tofcthcr : lor how ;-rc.it lor-vcr a 
 
 may be,
 
 Of tke STUDY of HISTORY. 19 
 
 may acquire new light and heat, as he pro- 
 ceeds in his rapid courle, certain it is that 
 he will never {nine with the full luftre, nor 
 Ihed the full influence he is capable of, 
 unleis to his own experience he adds the 
 rxpcrL'ncc of other men and other ages. 
 Genius, without the improvement, at leaft, 
 of experience, is what comets once were 
 thought to be, a blazing meteor, irregular in 
 his courfe, and dangerous in his approach ; 
 (if no ufe to any (yitem, and able to de- 
 itroy any. Mere fons of earth, if they have 
 experience without any knowledge of the 
 hiltory of the world, are but half fcholars 
 in the Icience of mankind. And if they 
 are converfant in hiltory without expe- 
 rience, they are worfe than ignorant ; they 
 are pedants, always incapable, fometimes 
 meddling and prefuming. The man, who 
 has all three, is an honour to his country, 
 and a public blefling: and fuch, I truft, 
 your lordfhip will be in this century, a* 
 your great-grand-father* was in the laft. 
 
 I have infilled a little the longer on this 
 head, and have made thole diftinctions 
 the rather, becauie tho I attribute a great 
 ci'al more, than many will be ready to al- 
 
 * Earl of CLARENDON. 
 
 U z 107/,
 
 20 LETTER II. 
 
 low, to the ftudy of hiftory , yet I would 
 not willingly even fcem to tall into the ri- 
 dicule of alcribing to it luch extravagant 
 effects, as fcveral have clone, from TULLY 
 down to CASAUBON, LA MOTME LE VAYER, 
 and other modern pedants. \Vhcn TULLY 
 informs us, in the Iccond book of his 
 Tufculan deputations, that the firlt SCIPIO 
 AFRICAN us had always in Jus hands the 
 works of XENOPHON, he advances no- 
 thing but what is probable and rcafonable. 
 To fay nothing of the retreat of the ten 
 thoufand, nor of other parts of XE.VOPHON'S 
 writings ; the images of virtue, reprelcntcd 
 in that admirable picture thr Cyropaedia, 
 were proper to entertain a foul that was 
 fraught with virtue, and CYRIS was wor- 
 thy to be imitated by Sri no. So SEI.I.NT 
 emulated CAKS\R, wii;>lc Commentaries 
 were tranllatrd tor h;s ulc a^ainil tiic cul- 
 torns of the Turks: t>> CAKSAR emulated 
 ALFXAKDER , anti AI.EX \\:)i.K, ACMII.J.F.S. 
 There is nothing ridiculous here, exa-pi 
 the ulV that is made oi th:s paii'.!<'c In thole 
 who quote it. But what the l.-nv "I'ri.L-i 
 Jiy;, in the fourth book oi his .uaJ.emical 
 dilput I'.'ins, c oncrrnmL 1 ; Lrc.Li.u-s, leerr.f* 
 to me very extraordinary. " In Aliam fac- 
 44 I 1 .;-. jni;;rr.iif:r vc:iir ; . UMI eliiT Kom.i 
 
 ;:'!,' t . . ;u. '.:>/' [o.:c 

 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 21 
 
 be ready to afcribc fo fudden a change, and 
 fo vaft an improvement, to nothing lefs 
 than knowledge mfufed by infpiration, if 
 we were not allured in the fame place that 
 they were effected by very natural means, 
 by fuch as it is in every man's power to em- 
 ploy] " partim percontando a peritis, par- 
 44 tim in rebus geftis legendis." LUCUL- 
 4-us, according to this account, verified the 
 reproach on the Roman nobility, which 
 SALLUST puts into the mouth of MARIUS. 
 But as 1 dilcover the pafTion of MARIUS, 
 and his prejudices to the patricians, in one 
 cafe ; fo I dilcover, methinks, the cunning 
 of TULLY, and his partiality to himfelf, in 
 the other. LUCULLUS, after he had been 
 chofen conful, obtained by intrigue the go- 
 vernment of Cilicia, and fo put himfelf into 
 a fituation of commanding the Roman army 
 a^ainft MITHRIDATES : TULLY had the fame 
 
 O 
 
 government afterwards, and tho he had 
 no MITHRIDATLS, nor any other enemy of 
 confequence, oppofcd to him , tho all his 
 military feats confilted in furprizing and 
 pillaging a parcel of Highlanders and wild 
 Cilicians ; yet he allumed the airs of a con- 
 queror, and dcfcribed his actions in fo 
 pompous a ftyle, that the account becomes 
 burlefque. He laughs, indeed, in one of 
 his letters to ATTICUS, at his s:cncralfhip : 
 B 3 but
 
 22 LETTER If. 
 
 but if we turn to thoic he writ to Comr* 
 jU'Kt'S, and to CATO, upon thi.s occalion, 
 Or to thoic \vhcrcin he cxprciies to ATTICTS 
 bis reicntmcnt an.^imt CATO, lur not pro- 
 pofing in his lavor tiie honors uhiaily de- 
 Crccd to conqueror 1 , \vc m.;y iVe how va- 
 nity turned his hcaJ, and how impudently 
 he iniiited on obtaining a triumph. Is ir 
 any ilrain now to luppolc, that he meant 
 to infinuate, in the p.ifi".ii;e I have quoted 
 about LfCt'i.L"s, thai live ditlercnce between 
 hini and the lormer gnveir.cr ol L'U.K IA, 
 even in milit.;ry merit, arole irom the dif- 
 terent i on juncture ;:!o:ie ; and that Lu- 
 ct'LLi-s could not have done in Cihcia, at 
 thac tnr.c, more ihitn he lunilelr did P CI- 
 CERO had red and queflioncd at lealt as 
 much a. l-vci'Li-L's, .ind uould therefore 
 have appeared a.s f:re.u a captain, ii he had 
 had as r;reat a prince as MITHKIPATSS to 
 encounter. But ti.e U;.L!I is, that l.rci.'!.- 
 HT. wa*: made a ^:eat captain by ti;eury, 
 or the Itudy of iuilory, alone, no more than 
 FLK :>!%' \N!> c>r Spain and .A u-noNsrs of 
 Naj !es v. ere cure*.! of dcfperate ii:(k-mpers 
 by rea li:.;', I -ivv and (^ i . ; rs Lt :: : IL-S : a 
 fi'v i.i'f, \\huii H'"'i\, A\!voT, ..r.J orhrrs 
 h .v- jx'r.vd i:p an,! pi op.i^..tt\!. J ,r 
 rfi.n"- \: .:! irrvid in h^ \"ut!i araiiill the 
 M:ui:, j rob..biy MI uliu-j war-, aiidSvi.i. \
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 23 
 
 took early notice of him : he went into the 
 caft with this general, and had a great (hare 
 in his confidence, lie commanded in fe- 
 veral expeditions- It was he who reitored 
 the Colophon ians to cheir liberty, and who 
 punilhcd the revolt of the people of Myte- 
 lene. Thus we fee that LUCULLUS was 
 formed by experience, as well as ftudy, and 
 by an experience gained in thole very coun- 
 tries, where he gathered fo many laurels 
 afterwards in fighting againft the lame ene- 
 my. The late duke of MARLBOROUGH 
 never red XENOPHON:, mod certainly, nor 
 the relation perhaps of any modern wars ; 
 but he ferved in his youth under monfieur 
 de TURENNE, and I have heard that he 
 was taken notice of in thofe early days, 
 by that great man. He afterwards com- 
 manded in an expedition to Ireland, ferved 
 a campaign or two, if I miftake nor, under 
 king WILLIAM in Flanders: and, befides 
 thele oauiions, had none of gaining expe- 
 rience in war, till he came to the head of 
 our armies in one thoufand leven hundred 
 and two, and triumphed, net over Afiatic 
 troops, but over the veteran armies of 
 France. The Roman had on his fide ge- 
 nius and experience cultivated by (ludy : 
 the Briton had genius improved by expe- 
 rience, and no more. The f.rfl. '.hercfojc is 
 B 4 not
 
 24 LETTER II. 
 
 not an example of what ftudy can do alone ; 
 but the latter is an example of what genius 
 and experience can do without ftucly. They 
 can do much, to be lure, when the tirit is 
 given in a fuperior degree. But fuch ex- 
 amples are very rare : and when they hap- 
 pen, it will be ftill true, that they would 
 have had fewer blcmiihcs, and would have 
 come nearer to the perfection of private 
 and public virtue, in ail the arts ot pc ace 
 and achievements of war, if the views of 
 fuch men had been enlarged, and their fen- 
 tirr.cnts ennobled, by acquiring that call of 
 thought, and that temper ot mind, which 
 will grow up and become habitual in every 
 man who applies himlelf early to the ftudy 
 of hiflory, as to the Ihidy of philofophy, 
 wirh the intention of being wifcr and bruer, 
 without the affectation or being more 
 learned. 
 
 T M f. temper of the mind is formed, and 
 a certain turn given to our ways of ti..; k- 
 ing i in a woul, the feeds <n that rr, r.il 
 character which cannot v, holly .ii^> the 
 n^'urai character, but rr..'.y correct t.'ie evil 
 and improve rl.e go.^ : . rl.at ir. i-. it, or i!o 
 the very iontr.n., u.c |;.VM betimes, and 
 much looner th.in is tomiin'iilv fupj>olcil. 
 
 It
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 25 
 
 It is equally certain, that we lhall gather 
 or not gather experience, be the better or 
 the vvuife for this experience when we 
 come into the world and mingle amongft 
 mankind, according to the temper of 
 mind, and the turn of thought, that we 
 have acquired beforehand, and bring along 
 with us. They will tincture all our future 
 acquifitions ; fo that the very fame expe- 
 rience, which fecures the judgment of one 
 man, or excites him to virtue, (hall lead 
 another into error, or plunge him into vice. 
 From hence it follows, that the (tucly of 
 hiftory has in this refpect a double advan- 
 tage. If experience alone can make us 
 perfect in our parts, experience cannot be- 
 gin to teach them till we are actually on the 
 ilage : whereas, by a previous application 
 to this ftudy, we conn them over at leaft, 
 before \ve appear there : we are not quite 
 unprepared^ we learn our parts Iboner, and 
 we k-arn them better. 
 
 LET me explain what I mean by an ex- 
 ample. There is fcarce any folly or vice 
 more epidemical among the Ions of men, 
 than that ridiculous and hurtful vanity, by 
 which the people of each country are apt to 
 prefer thcmiclves to thole of every other; 
 and to make their own cuftoms, and man* 
 
 ners,
 
 26 L E T T E R II. 
 
 ncrs, and opinions, the ilanciards of right 
 and wrong, of true and fallc. The Chi- 
 ncle madarins were Itrangcly furpnled, 
 and almoli incredulous, when the jcfuiis 
 fhcwcd them how I'm all a funuv their em- 
 pire made in the general map of the world. 
 The Samojedcs wondered much at the 
 Czar of Mufcovy for noc living among 
 them : and the Hottentot, who returned 
 from I'.urope, ilripped himlelf naked as 
 iuon as lie came home, put on his bracelets 
 of guts and garbage, and grew (linking 
 and lowly as lad as he could. Now no- 
 thing can contribute more to prevent us 
 Irom being tainted with this vanitv, than 
 to accultom ourielves early to contemplate 
 the different nations of the earth, in that 
 vail map \\hich hiilory fpreaus Ivtore i^, 
 in tiicir rile and tixir fail, in their barba- 
 rous ar.'i iivi!:/.c\i llaic>, in t'ic I'.keneis 
 and imhkcncL of them all to one aiv.nher, 
 a -' <n i ,'.* .1 t.) K'iv-lt. 15 v I,cv,ut::ulY re- 
 r win^ tins pr.'!;.v\l tcj the iiii.ui, t!".c 
 i"vlvx: .an \Mrii in-- i.i|>..ml out ot leather's, 
 Jacr:! ; .unr; ahum.-.!) vioum to h :'/^'> '^'H 
 n.r appear n:o:c lavag,- \<> our eve', than 
 ihc Spaniard \\.rh. .:i h ;l u: l.i> i;ead, aiui 
 a ;.. r on:li4 rounJ !r., I-CC'K, 1.Aiiii'';n^ v.hoi:- 
 
 c.'.n [..' w.imoniieib "I . u uiclcv. 
 
 i.
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 27 
 
 might (hew, by a multitude of other ex- 
 amples, how hiltory prepares us for expe- 
 rience, and guides ns in it : and many of 
 thck would be both curious and important. 
 I might likewiic bring feveral other in- 
 ftanccs, wherein hiitory fcrves to purge the 
 mind of thole national partialities and pre- 
 judices that we are apt to contract in our 
 education, and that experience tor the moil 
 part rather confirms than removes : becauic 
 it is for the moil part confined* like our 
 education. But I apprehend growing too 
 prolix, and fhall therefore conclude this 
 head by obferving, that tho an early and 
 proper application, to the ttudy of hiltory 
 will contribute extremely to keep our minds 
 free from a ridiculous partiality in favor 
 of our own country, and a vicious prejudice 
 againtl others-, yet the fame ttudy will 
 create in us a preference of affection to our 
 own country. There is a Itory told of AB- 
 CARUS. iic brought ievcral beads taken in 
 different places to Rome, they lay, and let 
 them loole before AUGUSTUS : every beatl 
 ran immediately to that part of the Circus, 
 where a parcel of earth taken from his na- 
 tive foil had been laid. " C red at Judaeus 
 Apeila." This tale might pals on JOSEPHUS ; 
 for in him, I believe, I red it : but furely 
 the iove of our ccurr.ry is a kilbn or rcalbn, 
 
 not
 
 2 S L E T T E R II. 
 
 not an inftkuiion of nature. Iiducation and 
 habit, obligation and intcrefr,, attach us to 
 it, not inftmct. It is 'however l~o neceffary 
 to be cultivated, and the profpcrity of all 
 locicrie% as well as the grandeur of fome, 
 dcpcr.db ut>on it fo much, that orators by 
 tlu.r eloquence, and poets by their cn- 
 thufiafm, have endeavoured to work up 
 this j rccept of morality into a principle 
 of paflion. Bur the examples which we 
 find in luilory, improved by the lively de- 
 fcnptions, .%nd the juil applaulesor cenlures 
 of l.'llorian.s will have a much better and 
 more permanent cfteifr, than declamation, or 
 long, or the dry ethics of mere philolophy. 
 In fine, to convtrle with hilloriansis to keep 
 j;fx>d company : many of them v/cre exccl- 
 k-nr r;un, ar.J thole who were not fuch, have 
 taken tuic however to appear Inch in their 
 writings. It ir.vifr. be therefore of great ufc 
 to [MTjxrr ouiiclvcs by tl;is convcrlation 
 tor t!i. u of the world , and to receive our 
 firfl imprclnons, and to acquire our lull h.t- 
 b;t<;, in a kene \v!iere images of virtue and 
 V:M: ?.r' r- ruiir.ially rcprelented to us \\\ the 
 colors : / I'.lor /; properly to them, before 
 vr ci.tvi (,;i an:iiiv.' .:<.:;, whrrc virtue 
 h'.! \ i< < arc t'Mi t ,11 confounded, and 
 v.i>.u lK.!'t; l; ^ i') one > .i!v.i,bcd to the 
 other. 
 
 IJt-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 29 
 
 BESIDES the advantage of beginning our 
 acquaintance with mankind fooner, and of 
 bringing with us into the world, and the 
 bu find's of it, fuch a caft of thought and 
 fuch a temper of mind, as will enable us 
 to make a better ufc of our experience-, 
 there is this further advantage in the lludy 
 of hiftory, that the improvement we make 
 by it extends to more objects, and is made 
 at the expence of other men : whereas that 
 improvement, which is the effect of our 
 own experience, is confined to fewer ob- 
 jects, and is made at our own expence. To 
 date the account fairly therefore between 
 thefe two improvements ; tho the latter 
 be the more valuable, yet allowance be- 
 ing made on one fide for the much greater 
 number of examples that hiftory prcfents 
 to us, and deduction being made on the 
 other of the price we often pay for our 
 experience, the value of the former will rife 
 in proportion. " I have recorded thefe 
 " things," fays POLYBIUS, after giving an 
 account of the defeat of REGULUS, "that 
 " they who read thefe commentaries may 
 1 be rendered better by them ; for all men 
 " have two ways of improvement, one arif- 
 " ing from their own experience, ,and one 
 " horn the experience of others. Kvi- 
 ( dcntior quidem illaeit, quae per prop HA 
 
 " ducit
 
 30 LETTER II. 
 
 " ducit infortunia; at tutior ilia, quae p< r 
 '* aliena." 1 uic CAS v BOX'S tranllation. 
 POLYBIUS gncs 0:1, and concludes, " that 
 *' fince the fir'l of their way, cxpofes us to 
 ** great labour and peril, whilil the 1'rrond 
 ct works the lame- good eficCr, and is ar- 
 " tended hv no rvil (.irrumil.Micc, every 
 " one oiiL'hr to t.k'^ tor prai:t'-d, t ; iat ti.e 
 * ftudy of i'.illory i> thr U It U hof.-l \vhrre 
 li he can learn how to rondui t hiiVilclt in 
 <c all the lituations of lile." KK<;UH-S h.ul 
 iccn at Rome many example ol irarj,r,ani- 
 mity, of frugality, of the contempt of riches 
 and of other virtues ; nnd the!.- vi;-ri:c i ; he 
 praftitcd. But he hrul not learned, nor had 
 opportunity oi "learning another lellbn, whirK 
 the examples recorded in hilb>ry iiicuk^tc 
 frequently, the lellbn of mfnieratio::. An 
 infatiablc- thiril of military fame, an i.neon- 
 fmcd ambition of extending tlieir cmpir'-, 
 an extravagant confidence in their own cou- 
 rage and force, an inlblent contempt of their 
 enemies, and an iinpetuors over-bearing 
 Jpirit with which t'i'.-v purkjrd all th.crir en- 
 terprises, competed ;:i his d..y> i!:< dillm- 
 guifhing character of a Roman. Whatever 
 the lenate and people relolvcd to t!ie mem- 
 bers ot that common-wealth, appeared both 
 practicable and ji:lt. Nci'Jier iiuiiculties 
 nor danpers could ( licck t l R-m , and their
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 3.1 
 
 foges had not yet difcovered, that virtues 
 in excels degenerate into vices. Notwith- 
 itanding the beautiful rant which HORAC? 
 puts into his mouth, I make no doubt that 
 KEGULUS learned at Carthage thofe lefton* 
 of moderation which he had not learned 
 at Rome; but he learned them by experi- 
 ence, and the fruits of this experience came 
 too late, and coit too dear-, for they coll 
 the total defeat of the Roman army, the 
 prolongation of a calamitous war which 
 might have been finifhed by a glorious peace, 
 the lofs of liberty to thoufands of Roman 
 citizens, and to KEGULUS himfelf the lofs of 
 life in the midft of torments, if we are en- 
 tirely to credit what is perhaps exaggeration 
 in the Roman authors. 
 
 THERE is another advantage, worthy our 
 observation, that belongs to the ftudy of 
 hiftory -, and that I mall mention here, not 
 only becauie of the importance of it, but 
 becauie it leads me immediately to fpeak of 
 the nature of the improvement we ought 
 to have in our view, and of the method in 
 which it leems to me that this improvement 
 ought to be purfued : two particulars from 
 which your lordfhip may think perhaps 
 hat I digrefs too Ion 2;. The advantage I 
 
 , . ^ ^ 
 
 mean coniilts in this, that the examples 
 whicJi h'ilory p relents to us, bth of men 
 
 and
 
 32 LETTER II. 
 
 and of events, are generally complete : the 
 whole example is before us, and conle- 
 qutntly the whole lefTon, or fomctimcs the 
 various lefibns, which philoibphy propofc* 
 ID teach us by this example. For firil, as to 
 men , we fee them at their whole length in 
 hiftory, and we lee them generally there 
 through a medium Icfs partial at leall than 
 that of experience : for I imagine, that a 
 whig or a tory, \vhilll thole parties fubfiited, 
 would have condemned in SATURNINLS the 
 fpirit of faction which he applauded in his 
 own tribunes, and would have applauded 
 in DRUSTS the fpirit of moderation which 
 he defpilcd in thofe of the contrary par- 
 ty, and which he fu {peeled and hated in 
 thofe of his own party. The villain who 
 has impoled on mankind by his power or 
 cunning, and whom experience could nor 
 unmafk tor a time, is immafkcd at lenirrh : 
 and the honed man, who has been r.hlun- 
 derftood or defamed, is justified before his 
 Itory ends. C)r if this dues not happen, ir 
 the villain dies with his malk on, in thr 
 midll of applaule, and honor, and wealth, 
 and power, and if tiie honcit man dies un- 
 der the fame load of calumny and dilgrace 
 under which lie lived, driven perhaps into 
 exile, and cxpcled to want ; yt t we Ice iii- 
 ttoiical juiki^c executed, tile name of' one 
 
 branded
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 33 
 
 branded with infamy, and that of the other 
 celebrated with panegyric to fuccceding ages. 
 " Praecipuum munus annaliurn rcor, nc 
 " virtutes fileantur; utquc pravis duftis 
 " fadifque ex poftcrirate et infamia metus 
 " lit." Thus, according to TACITUS, and 
 according to truth, from which his judg- 
 ments feldom deviate, the principal duty 
 of hiftory is to erect a tribunal, like that 
 among the Egyptians, mentioned by Dio- 
 DORUS SICULUS, where men and princes 
 themfclves were tried, and condemned or 
 acquitted, after their deaths; where thofe 
 who had not been punimed for their crimes, 
 and thofe who had not been honored for their 
 virtues, received a juft retribution. Thefen- 
 tence is pronounced in one cafe, as it was in 
 the other, too late to correct or recompenfe; 
 but it is pronounced in time to render i : :ele 
 examples of general inftruction to mankind. 
 Thus CICERO, that I may quote one in- 
 itance out of thoufands, and that I may do 
 juftice to the general character of that great 
 man, whole particular failing I have ceniured 
 fo freely j CICERO, I lay, v.v.s abandoned by 
 OCTAVIUS, and nuilacred by A NT HOMY. 
 But let any man reac! this fragment of 
 ARELLIUS Fuscus, ami chuic v, hich he 
 would wiih to have been, tiie orator, or 
 tlv. triumvir? " Quoad humanurn s;enus 
 C ^ in-
 
 - I< K T T E R II. 
 
 4i iruuKrnc ma.'ilcrit, quamd'.u ul'tis liter:?, 
 
 '* ivjn^r fumrrue eloqucntiae prctium crit, 
 
 " r.-j.,,;Ki;ij r^rj.ii nature aut fortuna ftc- 
 
 44 i. rir, aut memoru duraverit, admirabile 
 
 44 p.-/lteris vigcbis ineenium, ct uno pro- 
 
 14 icripius fcculo, prolcribcs Antonium om- 
 
 Tiffs a<?;Ain, ns to events that (land rc- 
 c^.rJc 1 in htit>ry; we lee llicin all, we Ice 
 tru -::\ as they followed one another, or as 
 try y produced one another, cauics or ef- 
 feci>, immediate or remote. \Ve arc call 
 b.ic.V, ;.s i: were, into former ages : we live 
 \\ /.:. : : - rr.vTi wivj lived before us an.i we 
 i,,. 1 . ';: . uuiuric-, :!i.:r we never law. Place 
 is r:ii.!rL : <-'.;, and time prolonged, in tl'is 
 ITV.:::KT; 10 iii.it tiic nun who .!> lie- Iiiin- 
 fi-i*" .-,;-ly to :he lh;,iy of hiitory, m.iy ac- 
 iji:;,^ 1:1 .-. f.-w vo.tr>, n;id before he Ivii h:s 
 lo^c nb'-o.id in ihe \K ( ii.!, not only a more 
 ex "-' : "-i kr.f )..:-.: ;:r of mankind, bu: t!ic 
 : :. . . ; r - ; ;r. ,\\ V.\T,::I; i^-s tiun any of t':* 
 I .:.;. V- la'-'. '1 Jv.- <. .'t ;.t^ \ve a:c witncfu i 
 or, :n i:;v c ouric '.! tlir l-i.^jfii liie, aojK'.ir 
 
 '.;! . <-, ;! 1 may v;.^ !.;<-.". .1:1 ex- 
 
 ; ; r",.:v of a hater in i 1 r.7l:fh ; in 
 
 IT :.: :. I v.f,\'i . .'.r :;", ! : . : tii" a'|-ear luch 
 very orrr;:, ;\:c i .ilk'.i ;:cf:d<::'/ , ."i I looked 
 tt:: a-; ti.e el : ', >rd, ; :y th; 
 
 way,
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 35 
 
 M'ay, which is in conflant ufV, and has fre- 
 quently no determinate meaning. We ec 
 over the prefent difficulty, we improve ific! 
 momentary advantage, as well as we can, ami 
 We look no farther. Experience can carry 
 us no farther ; lor experience can jn> a very 
 little way back in difcoverini* cautes : and 
 effects are not the objects ot' experience till 
 they happen. From hence many errors in 
 judgment, and by confequence in conduct, 
 necc-fTarily arife. And here too lyes the dif- 
 ference we are fpeaking of between hiftory 
 and experience. The advantage on the fid^ 
 of the former is double. In anticnt hiftory 
 as we have laid already, the examples are 
 complete, which arc incomplete in the courfe 
 of experience. The beginning, the pro- 
 grellion, and the end appear, not of parti- 
 cular reigns, much lefs of particular enter- 
 prizes, or lyftems of policy .done, but of 
 governments, of nations, of empires, and of 
 ail the various fyit<-ms that have lucceeded 
 one another in the couric of their duration. 
 In modern hiitory, the examples may be, 
 and Ibmetimcs are, incomplete; but they 
 have this advantage when they are iu, chac 
 they ferve to r^n;lcr complete the examples 
 ot" our own time. Experience is doubly 
 defective ; \\e a re born too late to iee the 
 beginning, r.nd v. - e die too ioon to ice the 
 C 2 c::d
 
 36 LETTER II. 
 
 end of many things. Iliftory fupplies both 
 thefe defects. Modern hittory fhcws the 
 caulcs, when experience prelcnts the effects 
 alone : and ancient hiftory enables us to 
 gucfs at the c fleets, when experience pre- 
 icnts the caufes alone. Let rnc explain my 
 meaning by two examples of thcfe kinds; 
 gnc pall, the other actually prefent. 
 
 WHEN the revolution of one thoufand 
 fix hundred and eighty-eight happened, few 
 men then alive, I luppolc, went farther 
 in their fearch after the caulcs ot it, than 
 the extravagant attempt of king JAMES 
 againll the religion and liberty of his peo- 
 ple. His former conduct, and the paiThgcs 
 or king CHARLES the fecond's reign might 
 rankle llill at the hearts of fonie men, but 
 could not be let to account among the caufes 
 of liis depofitiorii fince he had fucceeded, not- 
 witlilt.uii'.inp; them, peaceably to the throne : 
 and tlie nation in general, even many of 
 thole who would have excluded him from 
 it, were defirous, or at leall, willing, that 
 itc IhoulJ continue in it. Now this exam- 
 ple, thus tlated, allords, no doubt, much 
 goo.l initruction to the kings, and people. 
 ot Britain. But this initruction is not en- 
 tire, U\.iu!c the example thus ilaicd, and 
 confined to the expcrk'iKi' oi that aj-r, is 
 imperfect. King J A M L.S'.S mal-admimitra- 
 
 tion
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 37 
 
 tion rendered a revolution necefiary and 
 practicable; but his mal-adminiftration, as 
 well as all his preceding conduct, was cauied 
 by his bigot-attachment to popery, and to 
 the principles of arbitrary government, 
 from which no warning could divert him. 
 His bigot-attachment to thefe was caufed, 
 by the exile of the royal family ; this exile 
 was caufed by the ufurpation or. CROMWEL : 
 and CROMWEL'S ufurpation was the effect 
 of a former rebellion, begun not without 
 reafon on account of liberty, but without 
 any valid pretence on account of religion. 
 During this exile, our princes caught; the 
 taint of popery and foreign politics. \Ve 
 made them unfit to govern us, and after 
 
 *j 
 
 that were forced to recal them that they 
 might refcue us out of anarchy. It was 
 necelTary therefore, your lordmip fees, at 
 the revolution, and it is more Jo now, to 
 go back in hiftory, at leaft as far as I have 
 mentioned, and perhaps farther, even to the 
 beginning of King JAMES the tiril's reign, 
 to render this event a complete example, 
 and to develope all the wile, honed, and 
 lalutary precepts, with which it is pregnant, 
 both to king and fubject. 
 
 THE other example mail be taken from 
 
 what has iucceeded the revolution. Few 
 
 C 3 men
 
 38 LETTER II. 
 
 men at that t::ne looked forward enough, 
 to forcL-c t!;c necdT-ry conf.qucnces of the 
 new ccn!t::i:t'.on of the revenue, that was 
 l<*c- . .titcwur::<, : rine.i ; nor cf ihc method 
 <->t k::uii : ir.i.r.cJi-.tely tcok place i 
 
 v..:i_,\ .Vj.u:'.! .;> i!ii-v .iiv, i'.uv continued 
 cv\r lir.cr, t:!l it is bccorr.r l:ii\c j 1 - illblc 
 to ,i!:er t'u;r.. tV-v {''}!', I la;., forc- 
 Ja-.v ,'ij.v :!,- crcaf.tj.i ^r Ji.: 1 .;'-, and t!u: 
 nv..! i^l CM: :<j.i of t.t\cs, would ei.creaie 
 }"e.:riy i:.e po.vcr or tiic :nwn, .:r,d b.jn^ 
 ^>i r ii.--v-;;\s, by a r.amral i'nd ne^llary 
 J^rogrc/Tion, nuo ;r, .r^ re::l, tlvj !.-K 2|>j\i- 
 rei.: t'an^cr, t!:an ihcy were!" iu^ore t':e 
 
 ro* t!,'.- c liVa (.f ;.;r/:r.inj -.-, :r.::r:i:-: -, vr 
 v. !.;ir we t.,11 ei;a:.wv-, b.;; :.:" ',:.. ../: i". 1 
 
 fclj en ic in thole v. !,.-> !I.M, :!u-;.' a :,'..:: 
 
 t;r,-ie. I a:n no; l.> \ :i. !.-, i 
 
 -.e '. i ' ' 
 
 V.T, \s fi c.iii.e r.: _r :::::', v\j'r:c:re, 
 
 l\:;c", 't::-. fw: fi:- !y, .,.', ! i::. . . .::w!y, 
 
 or r(l..::. iv a! '.'.e lo 1(> i.e ;.n.i -..:..:; ;>i)- 
 ji*':. 'f ..e n't: jr. or a l .'.;C.i;.ry men to ti.c
 
 Of thcS-ruDV of HISTORY. 39 
 
 bark their fortunes on the fame bottom, 
 was a rcafon of ft.ite to ibme : the notion of 
 crcatini^ a new, that is, a moneyed intereft, 
 in oppolition to the landed interdt or as a 
 balance to it, and of acquiring a fuperior 
 influence in the city of London at lea it by 
 the cltablifnment of great corporations, \vas 
 a reafon of party to others : and I make 
 no doubt that the opportunity of a trifling 
 immenfe eftatcs by the management of 
 funds, by trafficking in paper, and by all 
 the arts of jobbing, was a rcafun of private 
 intcrclt to thofe wT.o fupported and improv- 
 ed thisf. heme of iniquity, if not to thofe 
 who deviled it. They looked no farther. 
 Nay, we who came after them, and have 
 long tailed the bitter fruits of the corrup- 
 tion they planted, were far rrom taking 
 fuch an alarm at our diltrefs, and OIT clan- 
 ger, as they deferved ; till the molt re. rote 
 and fatal effect of cauies, laid by the hit 
 generation, \v\is very near becoming an ob- 
 ject of experience in this. Your loivifhip, 
 I am lure, lees at once how much a due 
 reflection on the pafTagcs of former times, 
 as they itar.d r-corded in the hittory of our 
 own, and ot other countries, would have de- 
 terred a free people from fruiting the lole 
 man.igement of Ib great a revenue, r.nd the 
 |cle nomination of thofe legions of officers 
 C 4 employed
 
 40 LETTER II. 
 
 employed in ir, to their chief m;ieiftrate. 
 There remained indeed no pretence for 
 dom;' fo, when once a lalary was kttled on 
 the prince, and the public revenue was no 
 lon::er in any lenle his revenue, nor the 
 public expence Ins cxpencc. (jive me 
 leave to add, tha: it would have been, 
 and would l<j Ibil, more decent with re- 
 gard to (he prince, and k'b repugnant if 
 nor riore confirm;';! -le to the principles 
 and prr.'vi:ce t :o or our government, to 
 t.:!.e tias po-Acr .-.rui influence from the 
 p;;.cr, or tJ lliare it with him-, than to 
 ex.. ii!.:'-- men ir-.^tn ti'.e privilege of repre- 
 le..:ii'.n; tiiei;- iei! \v - iubjtc; ; who v.-oul! 
 cl.ule them in parliair.cnt, pui\!v l/.-cau!.- 
 they ;.iw e!: j !u\ed ar.d truited L<y the 
 prince. 
 
 Vov-;.; loiiif.:!!' lie.; not rr.lv, h..v.' ir.uJj 
 v i!iu- RliCLU'/n upnn (he (Xjiricr.re of 
 oti.', r ares and coLin[i;cs uoul.: h.iv<- rumt- 
 cd (-;:t r.atioiMi corn. 1 ! t:^-. 11 , .; - T j y n.:ui- 
 r.il .ind r.eieli.iry i.(>t',ie(;iii MI. c (>: :',\\ llmij; 
 the crown w::h t!;e ;ri.ij;.: : nt d 1'j 
 ^re.it .1 revenue; li;i alio ;..< }>',* of li- 
 bc;r. , a^ the n.aiir.d anl iv.- v efi'.iry conle- 
 (;..,;. v. ol national COITI'MIOM. . 
 
 I'm ,
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 41 
 
 THESE two examples explain fufiiciently 
 what they are intended to explain. It only 
 remains therefore upon this head, to obfcrve 
 the difference between the two manners 
 in which hittory fupplics the defects of our 
 own experience. It fhe\vs us caules as in 
 fact they were laid, with their immediate 
 effects : and it enables us to guefs at future 
 events. It can do no more, in the na- 
 ture of things. My lord BACON, in his 
 fecond book of the Advancement of learn- 
 ing, having in his mind, I fuppoie, what 
 PHILO and JOSEPHUS afierted ot MOSES, 
 affirms divine hiilory to have this prero- 
 gative, that the narration may be before 
 the fact as well as after. But fince the 
 ages of prophecy, as well as miracles, are 
 pall, we mult content ou delves to gusfs at 
 what will be, by what has been : we have 
 no other means in our power, and hiilory 
 furnifhes us with thefe. How we are to 
 improve, and apply thefe means, as v.elj 
 as how we are to acquire them, fhall be 
 deduced more particularly in another 
 jctter. 
 
 O F
 
 OF THE 
 
 STUDY of H i s T o R Y, 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 An objection ngainft the utility of hi- 
 (lory 'emoved. 2. The falfe and true 
 aims of thofe who lludy ir. 3. Of the 
 hiftory of the firil ages, with reflexions 
 on the ft;ue of ancient hiftory prophane 
 and f:crcd. 
 
 WERE thefe letters to fall into the 
 hands of iome ingenious perfons 
 vho adorn the ao;e we live in, your lorj- 
 fliip's correfponc'.ent would be pked upon 
 for his project of improving men in virrue 
 and wikiom by the lludy of i:iilor". The 
 general characlers of men it would be 
 laid, are determined by their n .aural con- 
 flitutions, as their particular aclicns are 
 by immediate objects. Many very con- 
 ve riant in hiftory would be cited, vvho have 
 proved ill men, or bad politicians; and 
 u long roll would be produced of o'Jiers, 
 
 who
 
 44 LETTER III. 
 
 who have arrived at a great pitch of pri- 
 vate, and public virtue, without any al- 
 fiftance of this kind. Something has been 
 faid already to anticipate this objection , 
 but, fincc I have heard leveral perlons af- 
 firm Inch proportions with great confi- 
 dence, a loud laugh, or a filent Incer at 
 the pedants who prcfumed to think other- 
 wife i I will fpend a tew paragraphs, with 
 your lordfhip's leave, to {hew that fuch 
 affirmations, for to afllrm amon^ll thclc 
 fine men is to reafon, either prove too 
 much, or prove nothing. 
 
 IF cur gencr.:! characters were deter- 
 mined abfolutcly, .;s they are certainly in- 
 fluenced, by our conflitutior.s, and it our 
 particular actions were fo by immediate 
 objects ; all inltrufii'Mi by precept, as well 
 s.i examj !_, and all endeavours to torm 
 the moral character by education, would 
 be unr.ccuTary. Kven the I'.rtle care that 
 is taken, and I'urely it IN impoiliblc to take 
 left, in t!u- training up our you'h, would 
 lx- too much. But ti;.- tru:h lu \\idely dif- 
 ferent trom ti;;-. reprc'.entation (Jl it -, tor, 
 what :. vue, and \v;i..c is v;:i.,r : I fpeak 
 of them in .1 l.;r^e and philolophical lenle. 
 The lurmer, i~, 1 think, no more than the 
 exec! 1 , ai'-Jlc, ;c.\. i iniUj'phcation ot ap-
 
 Of the STUDY oflliSTORY. 45 
 
 petites, deiires, and paffions, natural and 
 innocent, nay ufeful and necefTary. The 
 latter confilts in the moderation and go- 
 vernment, in the ufe and application of 
 thefe appetites, defires, and paflions, ac- 
 cording to the rules of reafon, and there- 
 fore, often in oppoiition to their own blind 
 impulfe. 
 
 WHAT now is education ? that part, that 
 principal and molt neglected part of it, I 
 mean, which tends to form the moral cha- 
 racter ? It is, I think, an inftitution defigned 
 to lead men from their tender years, by 
 precept and example, by argument and au- 
 thority, to the practice, and to the habit of 
 practifing thefe rules. The ftronger our 
 appetites, defires, and paflions are, the hard- 
 er indeed is the tafk of education : but when 
 the efforts of education are proportioned tc 
 this ftrength, altho our keeneft appetites 
 and defires, and our ruling paflions cannot 
 be reduced to a quiet and uniform fub- 
 miflion, yet, are not their excefies aflwa- 
 ged ? are not their abufes and mifapplica- 
 tions, in fome degree, diverted or checked ? 
 Tho the pilot cannot lay the ilorrn, can- 
 not he carry the Ihip, by his art, better 
 through it, and often prevent the wreck 
 that would always happen, without him ? 
 
 If
 
 46 LETTER III. 
 
 If ALEXANDER, who loved wine, and was 
 naturally choleric, had been bred under the 
 Icverity of Roman difcipline, it is proba- 
 ble he would neither have made a boniire of 
 Pcrfcpolis for his whore, nor have killed 
 his friend. If SCIIMO, who was naturally 
 given to women, for which anecdote we 
 h^ve, if I mirtake not, the authority of 
 POLYIML-S, as well as fame vcrlcs of NAL- 
 va's pixkivcd by A. GELLIUS, had bjen 
 educated by OLVMPIAS at the court of 
 PHILIP, i: is improbable that he would have 
 rcllored il'.e beautiful Spaniard. In fhort, 
 if the renow.--.cd SOCRATFS had m-t correct- 
 ed nature by ait, this iirll apoltle of t!ie 
 genr:!cs had bvc-n a very j.^rolligate fellow, 
 by },:; o-.vn confeflion , for he w^s inclined 
 to ..11 the vices ZOPVRUS imputed to him, 
 as they fay, on the oblervation of his 
 phvHoL'noir.y. 
 
 A * W- * 
 
 Wit 1 ? !:i:n therefore, who denies the ef- 
 fects or education, it would be in vain to 
 cMj;u:r ; and with him who admits them, 
 there can be no dilpute, concerning that 
 fiiare \vhich I alcribc to the lludy of hi- 
 Ito-v, in forming our moral characters, ar.d 
 making u^ better men. The very perlons 
 v:!io r;er.-;Ki that inclinations cannot be re- 
 itramcd, nor !..:! i ::s corrected, againft oi:r 
 
 n--
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 47 
 
 natural bent, would be the firit perhaps to 
 prove, in certain cafes, the contrary. A 
 fortune at court, or the favors of a lady, 
 have prevailed on many to conceal, and 
 they could not conceal without retraining, 
 which is one ftep towards correcting, the 
 rices they were by nature addicted to the 
 mod. Shall we imagine now, that the 
 beauty of virtue and the deformity of vice, 
 the charms of a bright and laiting reputa- 
 tion, the terror of being delivered over as 
 criminals to all pofterity, the real benefit 
 arifing from a confcientious dillharge of 
 the duty we owe to others, which benefit 
 fortune can neither hinder nor take away, 
 and the reafonablenefs of conforming our- 
 lelves to the defigns of GOD manifested in 
 
 C3 
 
 the conftitution of the human nature; (hall 
 we imagine, I fay, that all thefe are not 
 able to acquire the lame power over thole 
 who are continually called upon to a con- 
 templation of them, and they who apply 
 themfelves to the ftudy of hiftory aie lo 
 called upon, as other motives, mean and 
 fordid in companion of thefe, can ulurp 
 
 2. That the ftudy of hiftory, far from 
 making us wiler, and more ufefjl citizens, 
 as wcii as better men, may be of no ad- 
 
 vantage
 
 4 5 LETTER III. 
 
 vantage whatfocver; that it may fervc to 
 render us mere antiquaries and Icholars-, or 
 that it may help to make us forward cox- 
 combs, and prating pedants, I have already 
 allowed. But this is not the fault of hi- 
 ilory : and to convince us that it is nor, we 
 need only contrail the. true ufe of hiitory 
 with the ufe that is imdc of it by fuch 
 men as theft:. W r e ou^ht always to keep 
 in m:nd, that hiitory is philofophy teach- 
 ing by examples how to conduct ourielves 
 in all the tituations of private and public 
 I'.fr -, that therefore we mult apply our- 
 Jclvcs to it in a philofophical Ipirit and 
 manner -, that we mult rife from particular 
 to general knowledge, and that we mult 
 lit o'jiklves { jf tlic Ubiety and bulinels of 
 mankind by acculloming our minds to 
 ivik. I and tvejr. ,ite on the characters we 
 rind ila-Ji'.bed, and the comic ot events 
 v." :i -id j ;..:c."vl :hcrc. 1'articular examples 
 r/. ..y be oi u.e lt,,'.vti:rx ^ in particular cafes ; 
 IK. i t'.e ap|.-.i<..ition <-f tiiem is danrerous. 
 It !' u:t b.- cior.e wi;!\ the utnioit cucum- 
 i;v, ;/;",, o 1 .- ic v.^11 U: icldoin ilone with 
 I-.. An.i ye: or.e would tliink tliat 
 
 v..i, :..c jM'i.-u-ij-.il ufe of the lludyof 
 f. :.'.;., i . wii.it li.i. beer. v. rittenon the 
 
 .:. 1 ku ''' not whetiAT MACHIAVEL 
 i. qu.'.e free fro:n defect on thi^
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 49 
 
 account : he fcems to carry the ufc and apt 
 plication of particular examples fometimes 
 100 far. MAR IDS and CATULUS pafled the 
 Alpcs, met, and defeated the Cimbri be- 
 yond the frontiers of Italy. Is it fafe to 
 conclude from hence, that whenever one 
 people is invaded by another, the invaded 
 ought to meet and fight the invaders at a 
 diftance from their frontiers? MACHIA- 
 VEL'S countryman, GUICCIARDIN, was a- 
 ware of the danger that might arife from 
 fuch an application of examples. PETER 
 of Medicis had involved himfelf in great 
 difficulties, when thofe wars and calamities 
 began which LEWIS SFORZA firft drew and 
 entailed en Italy, by flattering the ambi- 
 tion of CHARLES the eighth in order to gra- 
 tify his own, and calling the French into that 
 country. PETER owed his diftrefs to his 
 folly in departing from the general tenor of 
 conduct his father LAURENCE had held, 
 and hoped to relieve himfelf by imitat- 
 ing his father's example in one parties 
 lar inifomce. At a time when the wars 
 with the pope and king of Naples had re- 
 duced LAURENCE to circumftances of preat 
 
 O 
 
 danger, he took, the refolurion of going 
 to FERDINAND, and of treating in perlon 
 with that prince. The refolution appears 
 ir hiilory imprudent and almoft ddperace : 
 D were
 
 50 LETTER HI. 
 
 were we in formed of the lecrct reafons on 
 which this great man atfted, it would appear 
 very poffibly a wile and lafemeafure. It Juc- 
 ceeded, and LAURENCE brought back with 
 him public peace, and private lecurity. As 
 ioon as the French troops entered the domi- 
 nions of Horcnce, PETER was ilruck with a 
 panic terror, went to CHAKLLS the eighth, 
 put the port of Leghorn, the tortrefies of 
 Piia, and ail the keys of the country, into 
 this prince's hands ; whereby he dilarmcd 
 the Morentine commonwealth, and ruined 
 himfclf. 1 le was deprived of his authori- 
 ty, and driven out of the city, by the ]uit 
 indignation of the magiftrates and people: 
 and m the treaty which they made artcr- 
 wards with the king or trance, it was itipu- 
 tatid, that PF.TFR fhouL! not remain with- 
 in an hundred miles oi the ftate, nor his 
 brothers within the fame dillancc ot thc-ciiy 
 of Florence. On th:s occaiiun Cifiici?\K- 
 DJS obferves how dangerous it is to go- 
 vern ourlelves by particular examples ; 
 fmce, to have the lame lu^als, we mull: 
 have the fame prudence, and thr ! uiir tor- 
 tune ; :uH 5 . lince the example mutt not only 
 anl.\cr the tv.le beiore us :n general, but m 
 every nv.i.t.ie circumllance. This is tlie 
 ieiilc oi :.'..' .:..ir..r,\!)!.- !.;ltorian, and thefc 
 .-.'c his vs..' " < l<.;,/..i duhio n.oito 
 
 " Jl'li
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 51 
 
 ** pericololo il governarfi con gl' c fern pi, 
 41 Ic non concortono, nun fulo in gencrale, 
 44 ma in tutti i particulari, Ic medifime 
 * 4 ragioni ; fe le cofe non Ibno regulate cun 
 44 la medcfima prudenza, &. !c oltre a tutti 
 " It altri fondarnenti, non, v'ha la parte 
 44 fua la medciima fortuna." An obfer- 
 vation that BUILEAU makes, and a rule h 
 lays down in fpeaking of tranflatioris, will 
 properly find their place here, :;nd krve to 
 explain itill better what I would eltabafh. 
 *' To tranflatc fervilcly into modern Ian- 
 <c o lla o e an anc i enc author phrafe by phrafe, 
 " and word by word, is prepoltcrous : no- 
 44 thing can be more unlike the original 
 " than fuch a copy. It is not to fhew, it 
 " is to difguife the author : and he who 
 " has known him only in this drefs, would 
 44 not know him in his own. A sood 
 * 4 writer, inftead of taking this inglorious 
 44 and unprofitable talk upon him, will 
 44 jouhxT centre I'original, rather imitate 
 u than tranllate, and rathercmulate tlianimi- 
 44 tate : he will transfufe the icnie and ipiric 
 4 ' of the original into his own work, and will 
 41 endeavour to write as the ancient author 
 " would have wrote, had he writ in th* 
 4 ' fame language," Now, to improve b, r 
 examples is to improve by imitation. We 
 mutt satch the Spirit, if \vecan, and con- 
 D 2 fo:m
 
 52 LETTER JIT. 
 
 form ourfelvcs to the rcaion of them ; hut 
 we muft not atfedl to tranfl.ue fcrvilch into 
 our conduct, it your lordfhip will allow me 
 the exprcflion, the particular conduft of 
 thole good and great men, whole images 
 hillory lets before us. CODRUS and the 
 Picn devoted themfclves to death: one, 
 becaule an oracle had foretold that the 
 army \vhofc general was killed would be 
 victorious -, the others in compliance with a 
 fupcrltition that bore great analogy to a 
 ceremony praclifed in the old Egyptian 
 church, and added afterwards, as many 
 others of the fame origin were, to the ri- 
 tual of thclfraclites. Thcle are examples of 
 great magnanimiry, to be fure, and of mag- 
 nanimity employed in the moll worthy 
 cauk-. In the early d.ivs of the Athenian 
 and Roman goverr.rv.cn t, when the credit 
 of oracles and ::li kinds ot luperllition pre- 
 vailed, when heaven was pi-unly thouuht to 
 delict in blood and even h'.:r::in Mood was 
 Iheii und.T wild Jioti(^n<; ot a::;r.riv.;-nr, pro- 
 pin.iiion, jnir^ation, cxj'.inf.on, r.r.il latis- 
 t.T't!'-!] ; they who let kit !i <-x.i;n; Irj .I 1 , their, 
 act.- i ::n hr:oi',.il and .1 r.uu ;u.tl p.trt too. 
 Bt:t it .'. r;r;;crr.il fhould act t:ie l.'.-'.ie pait 
 now, ;:rii, \"i I'V.icr to In-jrc his \:,:-Ty, gc: 
 killed :: : .:: . !.- could; j-.e :ni;i;t p-f. lor 
 an her*.-, bi:;, 1 ...r. luie, iie woiilt! p. MS for a 
 
 and-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 53 
 
 madman. Even thefe examples, however, 
 are of ufc : they excite us at leait to venture 
 our lives freely in the fcrvice of our country, 
 by p/opofing to our imitation men who de- 
 voted thcmlclves to certain death in the 
 fervicc of theirs- They (hew us what a 
 turn of imagination can operate, and how 
 the greateit trifle, nay the greatclt abfurdicy, 
 drefied up in the lolemn airs of religion, can 
 carry ardor and confidence, or the contrary 
 fcntiments, into the breafts of thoufands. 
 
 THERE are certain general principles, 
 and rules of life and conduct, which always 
 muft be true, bccaufe they are conforma- 
 ble to the invariable nature of things. He 
 who ftudies hiitory as he would fludy phi- 
 loiophy, will loon diilinguith and collect 
 them, and by doing ib will foon form to 
 himlelf a general fyltem of ethics and poli- 
 tics on the furelt foundations, on the trial 
 of thcfe principles and rules in all ages, and 
 on the confirmation of them by univcrfal 
 experience. 1 laid he will diilinguifh them ; 
 for once more 1 muft lay, that as to par- 
 ticular modes of actions, and meafures of 
 conduct, which the cultoms of different 
 countries, the manners of different ages, 
 and the circumftanccs of different conjunc- 
 ture, have appropriated, as it were :, it 
 D 3 i*
 
 $4 LETTER III. 
 
 is always ridiculous, or imprudent and 
 dangerous to employ them. But this i* 
 not ail. Uv contemplating the valt variety 
 
 f O - 
 
 of particular charaifiers and events ; by ex- 
 amining the ftran^e combinations of caufes, 
 different, remote and feemin<jly oppofitr, 
 that often concur in producing oneefrrftj 
 and the lurpriiing fertility of one lingle and 
 uniform caufc in the producing ot a multi- 
 tude of effects as different, as remote, and 
 feemingly as oppofite ; by tracing carefully, 
 as c.iU't ully as if the lubiedt he conliders 
 were or prrlonal and immediate concern to 
 him, all the minute and fumetimes fcarce- 
 perceivable circumftanc.es, either in the 
 characters of actors, or in the courfc of 
 actions, that hiltory enables h;m to (race, 
 and arcordine: to which the lucccfsof .ifiairs, 
 fvi.'i t?:' % 5>r(\.'c: 1 , !, fiojliy (jeterTined ; 
 b-, ii; I:-, .ii'.vi !.:rh u,i't!v >u as th !/, for I 
 nv: !.: <iruv:-d irvo a Trn.rh urcatrr dcrai!, 
 a n'.iti of j'.rc': m.r. invrnvc th>- ibu'^ ';' 
 
 l;'it' I'V t' it' 1 , JTi>p;T ..:- ' jT!P.C5p-;l u!r; !:f 
 
 mv ill iTj CM t!i- [ cpfir !!-;;i, nx lii:* ;:"CP- 
 t: :. ! iii 1 - n.'.iu!, .m.! I; rt r--: hen !>i. H;.!"- 
 rrr T , !.i- IT.-V ;ui|i;'.re H : c t t . iiltv . ;-,,! tin* 
 h.'.br <i .i:!i vrnir;' c'.i't'.'r, ;MI! !" ki'i.f 
 
 I.iMii'T ; -i' .1 (! ."XtTl'TV tl'.'.r '/yl'll!^.
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 55 
 
 depend on the concurrence or oppofition 
 of other men. 
 
 Mr. LOCKE, I think, recommends the 
 fludy of geometry even to thole who have 
 no deiign of being geometricians : and he 
 gives a reaion for it, that may be applied 
 to the preicnt cafe. Such perions may for* 
 get every problem that has been propoled, 
 and every folution that they or others have 
 given -, but the habit of purfuing long 
 trains of ideas will remain with them, and 
 they will appear through the mazes of fo- 
 phifm, and difcover a latent truth, where 
 perfons who have not this habit will never 
 find it. 
 
 IN this manner, the ftudy of hiftory will 
 prepare us for action and observation. Hi- 
 ftory is the ancient author : experience is 
 the modern language. We form our tafte 
 on the firll-, we tranfiate the lenle and rea- 
 fon, we transfufe the Ipirit and force ; but 
 we imitate only the particular graces of the 
 original : we imitate them according to the 
 idiom of our own tongue, that is, we fub- 
 ftitute often equivalents in the lieu of them, 
 and are far from affecting to copy them fer- 
 vilely. To conclude, as experience is con- 
 veriant about the preient, and the preicnt 
 D 4 enables
 
 5 6 LETTER 111. 
 
 enables us to gucfs at the future ; fo hiftonr 
 is converlant about the paft, and by know^ 
 ing the things that have been, we become 
 better able to judge of the things that 
 are. 
 
 THIS ufe, my lord, which I make the 
 proper and principal ufc of the ftudy of hi- 
 ftory, is not infifted on by thofe who have 
 writ concerning the method to be followed 
 in this ftudy : and fmcc we propofc differ- 
 ent ends, we muft of courfc take different 
 ways. Few of their rrratifes have fallen 
 into my hands : one v the method of BOD IN,, 
 a man famous in his time, I remember to 
 have red. I took it up with much cxpec*. 
 tation many years ago; I went through ir, 
 and remained extremely difappointed. He 
 might have given almolt any other tirlc to 
 his book as properly a.', that which iranci* 
 before it. There arc not ma/iy pages in it 
 that relate any more to his lubjfxt than a 
 tedious fifth chapter, wherein ne accounts 
 for the characters of nations according to 
 their pofi lions on the globe, and according 
 to the influence of the liars , and alluns 
 h'.s reader that nothing can be more nccef- 
 lary than iiuh a dilquifuion, ".id umvcr- 
 " fam Kiitoriarum cognitioru-m, et incor- 
 14 ruptufu c.au.'u |iivhciu:;i." In his n.c- 
 
 ihoii,
 
 Of the STUDY of HisTokv. 57 
 
 thod, we are to take firft a general view 
 of univcrfal hiftory, and chronology, in 
 Ihort abtlradls, and then to ftudy all par- 
 ticular hutories and fyitcms. SENECA 
 fpeaks of men who fpend their whole lives 
 in learning how to at in lite, " dum vitae 
 " inftrumenta conquirunt." I doubt that 
 this method of BODIN would conduct us in 
 the lame, or as bad a way; would leave 
 us no time for attion, or would make us 
 unfit for it. A huge common place book, 
 \vherein all the remarkable layings arid fafts 
 that we find in hiftory are to be registered, 
 may enable a man to talk or write like 
 BoDiN, but will never make him a better 
 man, nor enable him to promote, like an 
 ufeful citizen, the fecunty, the peace, 
 the welfare, or the grandeur of the com- 
 munity to which he belongs. I lhall pro- 
 ceed therefore to fpeak of a method that 
 kads to inch purpolbs as thele directly 
 and cenainly, without any regard to the 
 methods liut have been prelcribed by 
 others. 
 
 I THINK, then we mud be on our guard 
 againll this very affectation of learning, and 
 this very vvantonnefs of curiofity, \vhic:i 
 the examples and precepts we coinmonlv 
 meet with are calcui.ited to flutter arul in- 
 
 dultic.
 
 58 LETTER III. 
 
 dulge. We muft neither dwell too long 
 in the dark, nor wander about till we lofc 
 our way in the light. \Vc arc too apt to 
 carry fy items or philofophy beyond all our 
 ideas, and fyilcms of hiilory beyond all 
 our memorials. The philosopher begins 
 with reafon, and ends with imagination. 
 The hiitorian inverts this order : he begins 
 without memorials and he fomctimes ends 
 with them. This liliy cuftom is lo pre- 
 valent amonrr men oi letters who apply 
 thcmiclvcs to the Itudy of hiilory, and has 
 lo much prejudice ar..i lo much authority 
 on tic fide of it, t!...t your lordlliip mult 
 give me leave to Ipcak .1 little more parti- 
 cularly an:! plainly than I luve done, ui la- 
 vour of common icnlf, a^ainit an abfurdity 
 which is aiiuoit 
 
 Kl I LlLTION'x
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 59 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 On the ftatc of ancient HISJORY. 
 
 THE nature of man, and the conftant 
 courie of human affairs, render it impoili- 
 ble that the firft ages of any new nation 
 which forms itfelf, mould afford authentic 
 materials for hiitory. We have none fuch 
 concerning the originals of any of thole na- 
 tions that adually lubiiil. Shall we expedl 
 to find them concerning the originals of 
 nations dilperied, or extinguifhed, two or 
 three thouiand years ago ? Jf a thread of 
 dark and uncertain traditions, therefore, 
 is made, as it commonly is, the introduc- 
 tion to hiitory, we fhouid touch it lightly, 
 and run fwirtiy over it, far from infilling 
 on it, either as authors or readers. Such in- 
 troductions are at bed no more than fanci- 
 ful preludes, that try the instruments, and 
 precede ri:e concert. He mult be void of 
 judgment, and taite, one would think, 
 who can take the firft for true hiitory, or 
 the hit for true harmony. And yet ib it 
 has been, and ib it is, not in Germany and 
 Holland alone ; but in Italy, in France, and 
 in England, where genius has abounded, 
 and talte has been long refined. Our great 
 i have dt.ii: a::d deal in fables at leait 
 
 as
 
 60 LETTER III. 
 
 as much as our poets, with this diffcrcnc? 
 to the difadvantage of the former, to whom 
 1 may apply the remark as juftly as SENECA 
 applyed it to rhe dialecticians - " triftius 
 * inepti funt. llli ex profeHb lafcivium , 
 44 hi agerc Jeipfus aliquid cxittimanc, " 
 J. earned men, m learned and inquifitivc 
 ages, who po defied many advantages that 
 we have not, and among others that or" 
 beinc placed fo many centuries nearer the 
 original truths that are the objects of fo 
 much laborious k-arch, dclpaired of finding 
 them, and gave fair warning to poftcrity, 
 if pollcrity would have taken ir. The 
 ancient geographers, as PLUTARCH fays in 
 the life of THISII'S, when they laid down in 
 their maps the little extent of lea and land 
 that was known to them, k'ic great fp.iccs 
 void. In fome of thcle fpaccs they wrote, 
 Hrrc arc fandy defarts, in others Mere are 
 impaifublc marlhes, Here is a chain of in- 
 holpitablr mountains, or Here is a frozen 
 ocean. Joll lo, bo(h he anJ other hUlo- 
 nuns, when they related fabulou-. originals 
 were not wanting to let our the Ixaunds be- 
 yond which there wis neither lullory nor 
 chronology. CENSOHINTS has j rclcrved 
 die dUii;-.ct;on of three aeras cllabhfhcd by 
 YARKO. This learned Roman antiquary 
 did not determine whether the firft pcricxi 
 
 had
 
 Of the Si UDV of HISTORY. 62 
 
 had any beginning, but fixed the end of it 
 at the fit-it, that is, according to him, the 
 Ogygian, deluge \ which he placed, I think, 
 ibme centuries backwarder than JULIUS 
 AFRICANUS thought fit to place it after- 
 wards. To this aera of abfolute darkncfs 
 he luppofed that a kind of twilight fucceed- 
 cd, from the Ogygian deluge to the Olym- 
 pic aera, and this he called the fabulous 
 age. From this vulgar aera when CORAC- 
 BUS was crowned vidtor, and long afttr the 
 true aera when thcie games were inftitutcd 
 by IPHITUS, the Greeks pretend to be able 
 to digcft their hiitory with ibme order, clear- 
 nels, and certainty : VARRO therefore look- 
 ed on it as the break of day, or the begin- 
 ning of the hiftorical age. He might do 
 io the rather, perhaps, becaufe he included 
 by it the date he likewife fixed, or, upon 
 recollection, that the elder CATO had fixed, 
 of the foundation of Rome within the pe- 
 riod from which he fuppofed that hiftorical 
 truth was to be found. But yet mod cer- 
 tain it is, that the hiibory and chronology 
 of the ages that follow are as confuted and 
 uncertain, as the hiilory and chronology of 
 fhoie which immediately precede this aera. 
 
 I. Th<J
 
 62 L E T T E R III. 
 
 1. The ft.ue of r.r.clrr.r proi'ane hiilory. 
 
 THE Greeks did not begin to \vrite in 
 profe till PHERLCIDES ot SYKOJ* imiodiKed 
 the cuilom : and CADMUS MJLLSILS was 
 their firlt hiflonan. Now tiulc men riou- 
 rifhed long atier tlic tiuc-, or i- \\-n the vul- 
 gar Olympic acra -, lor JOSF.MU.S aliiim.-., 
 and in this he Jus ^rcat jMubabihty on i ii 
 fide, that CADMUS MILLSH i, and Acui.1- 
 LAUS Anc-iWi, in a word the olJctl l::ilo- 
 rians in Greece, were very little more .;n- 
 cicnc than the expedition ot the IVrlians 
 a^amlt the Greeks. A: Jeveral crniurie^ 
 palTed between tiic Olyiiij ;c .iera a:-.d the'.c 
 hrfl hidonans, liu-re p.iiil<; l:kc\vilc lc\-ial 
 more bc-Lv.'c'cn titelc .'.ad tiic >~.T[\. Greek c.'.io- 
 nolop-rs. 'I' i. MO is about the time <^1 l'io- 
 
 LO.'.TV PHILADLLi'HU.S .;l)d K* A'l OM iii.N i S 
 
 abou: t!-,ar <i \'i "M.o.v. v I-'VLKGI /i K--, !'i n 
 firlt :o i...vc L.'-.-J LVC" 
 
 ticnr wr:ic:rj ri;ei.:'/i c '-.HH-., tin- 
 
 }):^i.i ; but till* ruie (A ree.-a>...: j; v. .1.-. I'.crt 
 
 broxjj^'.: ir;to e;l.:l-i::hevi u.- io her. i ^.c 
 
 rule 
 
 c!c.r .:;.vi cer:a;n t:i! n 'A .> I 1 ;! 
 
 nor i't.!!,;-,vc.i uii ^
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 63 
 
 after the Olympic acra. There remains 
 therefore no pretence to place the begin- 
 ning of the hittorical age fo high as VARRO 
 placed it, by five hundred years. 
 
 HELLANICUS indeed and others pretend- 
 ed to give the originals of cities and go- 
 vernments, and to deduce their narrations 
 from great antiquity. Their works are loft, 
 but we can judge how inconfiderable the 
 lofs is, by the writings of that age which 
 remain, and by the report of thofe who had 
 leen the others. For inftance, HERODO- 
 TUS was cotemporary with HELLANI- 
 cus. HERODOTUS was inquifitive enough 
 in all confcience, and propoled to publiih 
 all he could learn of the antiquities of the 
 lonians, Lydinns, Phrygians, Egyptians, 
 Babylonians, Medes, and Perfiuns , that 
 is, of almolt all the nations who were 
 known in his time to exiil. If he wrote 
 Afiyriacs, we have them not , but we are 
 fure that this word was ufed proverbially 
 to fignify fabulous legends, ibun after his 
 time, and when the mode of publifhing 
 luch relations and hiiloiies prevailed among 
 the Greeks. 
 
 IN the r.ir.c books we liave, he goes back 
 indeed almcil to the Olympic aera, with- 
 out
 
 64 LETTER III. 
 
 out taking notice of it however; but hs 
 goes tuck only to tell an old woman'* 
 tale, of .1 king who loll his crown lor 
 (hewing his wile naked to his favourite-, 
 and from C .\\DAur.r.s and dvoi.s he 
 haitcns, or ratiier lie takes a ieat k'tip t 
 
 tiov/n to 
 
 SOMETHING like a thread of hiiU;ry ot 
 the Mcdcs ami then of the i'erlians to the 
 flight ot XLKXLS, which happened in hu 
 own time, is carried on. The. events ot 
 his own tune are related with an u:r ot hi 
 ilor). ]>ut ail accounts ot the Greeks as well 
 as the Pcrfians, which precede thelc, and all 
 the accounts which he ^ives occalionally ot 
 other nations, utrc drawn uj> molt mani- 
 ictlly on broken, j^rplc^cd, and doubiiul 
 fcr.ips ol' tradition, lie had neither origi- 
 nal iccoids, nor any authentic memorials 
 to guiJ.e lii:!:, and yet thele are the lolc 
 foundations (^i tr-.-'c h;itury. UKRQPOTUS 
 Hourithcii. I t 1 ;:::!., i::iic more than iiali a 
 century, a;,d XLN^PHON inilc more tii.ui a 
 wljole century, attcr thi: death oi CYRUS: 
 and yet how various and repugnant arc the 
 relations made by thde two hiltonan^, o 
 the binn, life, and death of this pnnce ? 
 Ir moll iiiltorits had come down from thelc 
 arcs to cur. v" uncert.ii.'Hv and inutihcy 
 
 of
 
 Of the S ruoY of HISTORY. 65 
 
 of them all would be but the more manifeft. 
 We ihould find that ACLTSILAUS rejected 
 the tradicions of HESIOD, that HELLAM- 
 cus contradicted ACUSILAU?, that EPHORUS 
 accufed HLLLANICUS, that TIMAEUS accu- 
 fed EPHORUS, and all pofterior writers TI- 
 MAEUS. This is the report of JOSEPHUS. 
 Bur, in order to fhew the ignorance and 
 falfhood of all thole writers through whom 
 the traditions of profane antiquity came to 
 the Greeks, I will quote to your lordmip 
 a much better authority than that of JO- 
 SEPHUS -, the authority of one who had no 
 prejudice to bias him, no particular caufe 
 to defend, nor fyftem of ancient hiftory to 
 cftablifh, and all the helps, as well as ta- 
 lents, neceifary to make him a competent 
 judge. The man I mean i 
 
 SPEAKING of the Maflagetae in his ele- 
 venth book, he writes to this effect: that no 
 author had given a true account of them, tho 
 feveral had writ of the war that CYRUS 
 waged againft them ; and that hiltoriar.s had 
 found as little credit in whan they had re- 
 lated concerning- the affairs of the Pcrfians, 
 
 O 
 
 Modes, anti Syrians : that this was due to 
 their folly ; for obferving that thofe wh 
 wrote fables profeliedly were held in eiteem, 
 thele men imagined they fliould render their 
 E writings
 
 66 LETTER III. 
 
 writings more agreeable, if, under the ap- 
 pearance and pretence of true hiftory, they 
 related What they had neither fcen nor 
 heard from pcrlons able to give them true 
 information i and that accordingly their 
 only aim had been to drefs up plcafing and 
 marvellous relations : that one may better 
 give credit to HESIOD and HOMER, \\hen 
 they talk of their heroes, nay even to dra- 
 matic poets, than to CTESIAS, HERODOTUS, 
 HELLANICUS, and their followers : that it 
 is not fafe to give credit even to the greatclt 
 part of the hiilorians who writ concerning 
 ALEXANDER i fince they too, encouraged 
 by the greater reputation of this conque- 
 ror, by the dillance to which he carried 
 his arms, and by the difficulty of difp rov- 
 ing what they laid of actions performed in 
 regions fj remote, were apt to deceive : 
 that indeed when the Roman empire on 
 one fide, and the Parthian on the other, 
 came to extend themlelvts, the truth of 
 things grew to be better known. 
 
 You fee, my lord, no: only how late 
 profane hiilory began to be writ by the 
 Greeks, but how much later it began to 
 be wi it with any regard to truth i and con- 
 fequemly \vhat wictihcd matfiials the 
 Iconic. l r.vcn, who .uoic after the age of 
 
 ALLX-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 67 
 
 ALEXANDER, had to employ, when they 
 attempted to form fyftems of ancient hifto- 
 ry and chronology. We have fome remains 
 of tiiat laborious compiler DIODORUS Sicu- 
 l-us, but do we find in him any thread of 
 ancient hiltory, I mean, that which pafl~ed 
 tor ancient in his time ? What complaints, 
 on the contrary, does he not make of for- 
 mer hiftorians r* how frankly does he con- 
 tci's the little and uncertain light he had to 
 follow in his refearches ? Yet DIODORUS, 
 as well as PLUTARCH, and others, had not 
 only the older Greek hiltorians, but the 
 more modern antiquaries, who pretended to 
 have fearchcd into the records and rrgnfters 
 
 f 
 
 of nations-, even at that time renowned for 
 their antiquity. BEROSUS, for inilance, and 
 MANETHO, one a Babylonian and the other 
 an Egyptian priell, had publithed the anti- 
 quities of their countries in the time of the 
 PTOLE.MYS. BEROSUS pretended to give the 
 hiftory of foi;r hundred and eighty years. 
 PLINY, if I remember right, for I fay this 
 on memory, fpeaks to this effedl in the 
 Jjxth book of his Natural Hillory : and if ic 
 was fo, thefe years were probably years of 
 NABOXASSAR. MANLTHO be^an his hifto- 
 ry, God knows when, from the progrefs 
 of Isis, or fome other as well ascertained 
 period. He followed the Egyptian trad.i- 
 E 2 ;ions
 
 6S LETTER III. 
 
 tions of dynafties of Gods and Demi-Gods; 
 and derived his anecdotes from the firlb 
 MERCURY, who had inlcribcd them in la- 
 cred characters, on antediluvian pillars, an- 
 tediluvian at lead according to our received 
 chronology, from which the fccond MER- 
 CURY had tranfcnbed them, and inlertcd 
 them into his works. \Vc have not theic 
 antiquities; f^r the monk of VITERBO was 
 foon detected : and if we had them, they 
 would cither add to our uncertainty, and 
 cr.creafc the chaos of learning, or tell us 
 nothing worth our knowledge. For thus 
 I rcalon. Had they given particular and 
 hillorical accounts conformable to the fcrip- 
 tures of the Jews, JOSKIHUS, JULIUS 
 AKKJCANUS, and KUSEBIUS would have 
 made quite other extracts from their writ- 
 ings, and would have altered and contra- 
 dicted them Iris. The accounts they gave, 
 therefore, were repugnant to lacrcxi wri;, 
 or they were defective: they wouid have 
 eftablimed pyrrhomim, or have baulkec* 
 our curiofity.
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 69 
 
 2* Of facred hiftory. 
 
 WHAT memorials therefore remain to 
 give us light into the originals of ancient 
 nations, and the hiftory ot thole ages, we 
 commonly call the firft ages ? The Bible, 
 it will befaid; that is, the hiftorical part 
 of it in the Old Teftamenr- Bur, my lord, 
 even thefe divine books muft be reputed 
 infufficient to the purpofe, by every candid 
 and impartial man who confiders either 
 their authority as hiftories, or the matter 
 they contain. For what are they ? and 
 how came they to us ? At the time when 
 ALEXANDER carried his arms into Afia, a 
 people of Syria, till then unknown, became 
 known to the Greeks : this people had been 
 flaves to the Egyptians, Annans, Medes, 
 and Pcrfians, as thefc ioveral empires pre- 
 vailed : ten pares in twelve of them had 
 been tranfplanted by ancient conquerors, 
 and melted down and loft in the eaft, fc- 
 veral ages before the eftablifhment of the 
 empire, that ALEXANDER deilroyed : the 
 other two parts had been carried captive to 
 Babylon a little before the fame acra. This 
 captivity was not indeed perpetual, like the 
 other , but it lafted fo long, and fuch cir- 
 E curn-
 
 76 LETTER Ilf. 
 
 cumftanccs, whatever they were, accom- 
 panied it ; that the captives forgot their 
 country, and even their language, the He- 
 brew dialect at kaft and character: and a 
 few of them only could be wrought upon, 
 by the zeal of fome particular men, to re- 
 turn home, when the indulgence of rhe 
 rcrfian monardis <avc them leave to re- 
 build their city and to rcpeople their ancient 
 patrimony. Even this remnant of the na- 
 tion did not continue lon^r entire. Another 
 great tranfmigration fallowed', and the 
 Jews, that fettled under the proietftion of 
 the PTOTEMYS, forgot their language in 
 Egypt, as i he forefathers of tlufc Jews had 
 forgot theirs in Ch.ildea. More attached 
 however to their religion in I-^vpf, for 
 rcafons eaiy to be deduced from the ne\T 
 inliitutions that prevailed afier the captivity 
 among them, th.m their ancellors had been 
 in Ch.il'ea, a vc:fi>n of t!;nr lac red wri- 
 tings was nude into G;it.k at Alexaiuiri.i, 
 not long after the uir.on ^f tlu'fe Icnpiurt^ 
 had been tinifhcd at Jc.ru..! m, lor nuny 
 yeiir>. couk; nut intervene rer.vven the i.c.itfi 
 of SIMON the |u(l, by \v..vim if. is c.mon 
 v/as fimlhct!, if !.e i!n i linrin;' the rei^n 
 of PTOI.EMV SOTKR, .i;ui ti.c oe^ inning <>f 
 this famous tiai!l1.u:"n \\m\i-r Proi.iMv 
 
 'KI.F'lit .S. '1 he julifi-.iit Jl'WS 1C 
 
 portcil
 
 Of the STUDY ofHisTQRY. 71 
 
 ported as many marvellous tilings to autho- 
 rize, and even to fanctify this tranflauon, 
 as the other Jews had reported about Es- 
 DRAS who began, and SIMON the juft who 
 finilhed, the canon of their fcriptures. 
 Thefe holy romances flid into tradition, 
 and tradition became hiftory : the fathers 
 of our chriftian church did not difdain to 
 employ them. St. JEROME, for inftance, 
 laughed at the ftory of the fcventy-two 
 elders, whole translations were found to be, 
 upon companion, word for word the fame, 
 tho made leparately, and by men who had 
 no communication with one another. But 
 the lame St. JEROME, in the fame place, 
 quotes ARISTEAS, one of the guard of 
 PTOLEMY PHILADELPHIA, as a real per- 
 fonage. 
 
 THE account pretended to be writ by this 
 ARISTEAS, of all that parted relating to the 
 tranllation, was enough for his purpofe. 
 This he retained, and he rejected only the 
 more improbable circumftances, which had 
 been added to the tale, and which laid it 
 open to moft fufpicion. In this he (hewed 
 great prudence, and better judgment, than 
 that zealous, but weak apologift JUSTIN, 
 who believed the whole ftory himfelf, and 
 endeavoured to impofe it on mankind. 
 
 E 4 THUS
 
 72 LETTER III. 
 
 THUS y>)u fee, my lord, that whrn we 
 confidcr thcl'c books barely as hiftorics, 
 delivered to us on the- faith of a fuperfh- 
 tious people among whom the cuftom and 
 art or pious lying prevailed remarkably, 
 we may be allowed to doubt whether great- 
 er credit is to be given to what they tell us 
 concerning the original, compiled in their 
 own country and as it were out of the fight 
 of the reft of the world ; than we know, with 
 fuch a certainty as no fcholar prefuir.es to 
 deny, that we ought to give to what they 
 tell us concerning the copy ? 
 
 THE Hcllcnifl Jews were extremely 
 plealed, no doubt, to have their fcriptures 
 in a language they understood, and that 
 might fpread the fame of their antiquity, 
 and do honor to their nation, among 
 their matters the GK 1. s. Bur yet we do 
 not fuul that the authority of thefc books 
 i rcvailcd, or that even they were much 
 known arnon^ the I'agan \vorKl. The rea- 
 fon of th:~ cannot be, th.u the dnrks ;ui- 
 iiiircd nothing that w.i<. no: of their o.vn 
 j^rov. ;ii, "lua tai.tuin n.iranu.r :" for, on 
 the f on'r..:y, t!i'.-y were iiu|uif;;;vc and ere- 
 duloiij ;n li.c l.irjicf. cl; ;;.'(.'_, aia! they rr>l- 
 Jedled an,! pi;! i:ihe:i .:' i, .;fl .is nuny icllr 
 trdd't. .-:.., f>t oii. : ;..:': ,", -, .1: r-.Ty propa-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 73 
 
 gated of their own. JOSEPHUS pretended 
 that Tmopo.MPUS, a difciple of ISOCRATES, 
 being about to infert in his hiftory fome 
 things he had taken out of holy writ, the 
 poor man became troubled in mind for fe- 
 veral days , and that having prayed to 
 GOD, during an intcrmiffion of his il.lnefs, 
 to reveal to him the caufe of it, he learned 
 in his deep that this attempt was the caufe ; 
 upon which he quitted the defign and was 
 cured. It JOSEPHUS had been a little more 
 confident than he is very often, fuch a fto- 
 ry as this would not have been told by one, 
 who was fond, as Jews and Chriftians in 
 general have been, to create an opinion 
 that the Gentiles took not their hiftory 
 alone, bun their philofophy and all their 
 valuable knowledge, from the Jews. Not- 
 withftanding this itory therefore, which is 
 told in the fifteenth book of the Jewifh An- 
 tiquities, and means nothing, or means to 
 ihew tii.it the divine Providence would not 
 iuffer anecdotes of facred to be mingled 
 with profane hiftory ; the practice of JOSE- 
 PHUS himfelf, and of all thofe who have 
 had the lame delign in view, has been to 
 confirm the former by the latter, and at 
 any rate to iuppote an appearance at leait 
 of conformity between them. We arc 
 told HICATAEUS ABDZRITA, for there 
 
 were
 
 74 LETTER III. 
 
 were two of that name, wric a hiftory fa- 
 vorable to the Jews: and, not to multiply 
 inftanccs, tho I might cafily do ir, even 
 ALEXANDER POLYHISTOR is tailed in. He 
 is quoted by JOSEPH us, and praifcd by 
 EUSEBIUS as a man of parts and great va- 
 riety of learning. His tcltimony, about the 
 cklugc and tower of Babel, is produced by 
 St. CYRIL in his firfl book againlt JULIAN ; 
 and JUSTIN the apoligift and martyr, in 
 his exhortation to the Greeks, makes ufc 
 of the fame authority, among thole that 
 mention MOSES as a leader and prince of 
 the Jews. Tho this POLYHISTOR, if I re- 
 member right what 1 think I have met with 
 in SUIDAS, Ipoke only ot a woman he called 
 Mo so, " cujus fcripmm dl lex hebr.u-o- 
 44 rum *" Had the Greek hiftorians been 
 conformable to the facred, I cannot lee that 
 their authority, which was not cotempo- 
 rary, would have been of am weight. 
 They might have copx-d Mos i:s, and lo 
 they did CTESIAS. But even this was net 
 
 tiu^- J, ?r~,> 'A>! f *t*.^ i MiXr /.> o II'X-.--; Soi. 
 
 Lex. torn. n. y. :H ;. 
 
 'A>^;7.-> . -'.- n -At .',-. . (T-H-/;.*^! ^'.tx.ai *,.?- 
 
 p* */ 1 . ;" . ,?'- I'.u-; r.'>.' TI.TI . / .: 7ci; >-i; t. , 
 -c ;' ,'"/'" l'-< .'*' M- *. "4 '" "; ''* i ! 
 'F.j'*.., y.'.. id. tc.i.. i. }>. i oj hJ.i. L jr.i*u. i"i^ 
 
 tt.'
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 75* 
 
 the cafe : whatever ufe a particular writer 
 here and there might make occafionally of 
 the fcriptures, certain it is that the Jews 
 continued to be as much defpifed, and their 
 hiftory to be as generally neglected, nay 
 almoft as generally unknown, for a long 
 time at leatl after the verfion was made at 
 Alexandria, as they had been before. APION, 
 an Egyptian, a man of much eruditon, 
 appeared in the world fome centuries atter- 
 wards. He wrote, among other antiquities, 
 thofe of his own country : and as he was 
 obliged to fpeak very often of the Jews, 
 he fpoke of them in a manner neither 
 much to their honor, nor to that of their hi- 
 ftories. He wrote purpofely againft them : 
 and JOSEPHUS attempted afterwards, but 
 APION was then dead, to refute him. 
 APION parted, I know, for a vain and 
 noify pedant , but he pafled likewife for a 
 curious, a laborious, and a learned anti- 
 quary. If he was cabaliflical or fuperili- 
 tious, JOSEPHUS v*as at lead as much fo as 
 he : and it he flattered CALIGULA, JOSE- 
 PHUS introduced himfelf to the court of 
 NERO and the favour of POPPAEA, by no 
 very honorable means, under the protec- 
 tion ot ALITURUS, a player, and a Jew; 
 to fay nothing of his applying to VESPASIAN 
 the prophecies concerning the Median, 
 
 nor
 
 76 LETTER III. 
 
 nor of his accompanying TITI-S to the 
 ficgc of Jcrufalcm. 
 
 I N fhort, my lord, the Jewifh hiftory 
 never obtained any credit in the world, till 
 chriftianity was eitablifhcd. The founda- 
 tions of this fyltem being laid partly in thefe 
 hiftories, and in the prophecies joined to them 
 or inferred in them, chrillianity has reflect- 
 ed back upon them an authority which they 
 had nut before, and this authority has pre- 
 vailed wherever chnltianity has fpred. Both 
 Jews and Chrillians hold the lame books in 
 great veneration, whilfl each condemns the 
 other for not underftanding, or for abufing 
 them. But 1 apprehend that the zeal ot 
 both has done much hurt, by endeavouring 
 to extend their authority much farther than 
 is necclTiry for the fupport perhaps of 
 Judaifm, but to be l\;re of chriilianity. 
 1 explain r,,yiVlf that I may olrcnd no 
 pious ear. 
 
 Si MOV, in th'- preface to his Critic;;! hi- 
 fb-ry ot the Old t'/ltarnent, cites ;i divine (jf 
 thr facMhy of I'.tns, who IrJ.i th.'.t rhc m- 
 Ipiranoi^s of the authors ot thoie book', 
 whuh the chur.ii receives .:, the word of 
 (rod, flioulcl IH- extended no MfL'r r'-i-in 
 to matters pjrtlv ot do*.i;'i;;e, or to In. :
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 77 
 
 as have a near and necefTary relation to 
 thefe ; and that whenever thefe authors 
 writ on other fubjefts, fuch as Egyptian* 
 Alfyrian, or other hiftory, they hud no 
 more of the divine afiiltance than any other 
 perfons of piety. This notion of infpira- 
 tions that came occafionally, that illumi- 
 nated the minds and guided the hands of 
 the facred penmen while they were writ- 
 ing one page, and retrained their influence 
 while the fame authors were writing ano- 
 
 O 
 
 ther, may be cavilled againft : and what is 
 there that may not ? But furely it deferves 
 to be treated with reipedt, fince it tends to 
 r-ltablifh a dittindtion between the legal, 
 doctrinal, or prophetical parts of the Bible, 
 and the hillorical : without which diftinc- 
 tion it is impoflible to eftablifh the firft, as 
 evidently and as folidly as the intcrefts of 
 religion require : at lead it appears impofli- 
 ble to me, after having examined and con- 
 lidered, as well as I am able, all the trials 
 of this kind that have been made by fubtile 
 as well as learned men. The Old is faid 
 to be the foundation of the New, and fo it 
 is in one lenie : the lyltem of religion con- 
 rained in the latter refers to the fyftem of 
 religion contained in the former, and fup- 
 poies the truth of it. But the authority on 
 which wj receive the books of :he New teila- 
 
 ment,
 
 7 S LETTER III. 
 
 ment, is fo far from being founded on the 
 auihority of the Old tcilamcnt, that it is quite 
 independent on it - t the New being proved, 
 gives authority to the Old, but borrows 
 none from it ; and gives this authority to 
 the particular parts only. CHRIST came to 
 ful till the prophecies-, but not to confe- 
 crate all the written, any more than the 
 oral, traditions of the Jews. We mult be- 
 Jicve thelc traditions as far as they relate 
 to chriibaniiy, as far as chrillianity refers 
 to them, or fup poles them neceflary ; but 
 we can be under no obligation to believe 
 them *ny farther, fince without chriltianity 
 we Ihould be under no obligation to believe 
 them at all. 
 
 IT has been faid by ABB ADI F, and o- 
 thers, " 1 hat the accidents which have 
 ' k happened to alter the texts of the Bible, 
 " and to disfigure, if 1 may fay fo, the 
 " fcriptures in many refpects, could not 
 " have been prevented without a perpetual 
 " (landing miracle, and that a perpetual 
 " ftanding miracle is not in the order of 
 u providence." Now I can by no means 
 fublcnbc to this opinion. It k-rms evident 
 to my real'on that the very contrary mull 
 be true ; it \ve luppofr that GOD acts to- 
 wards men according to the moral iirncfs 
 
 of
 
 Of the STUDY ofHisroRv. 79 
 
 of things : and if we fuppofe that he acts 
 arbitrarily, we can form no opinion at all. 
 I rhink that theft- accidents would not have 
 happened, or that the icriptuics would have 
 been preferved entirely in their genuine pu- 
 rity notwithftanding thefe accidents, if they 
 had been entirely dictated by the HOLY 
 GHOST , and the proof of this probable pro- 
 pofition, according to our cleared and moil 
 diitinct ideas of wifdom and moral fitnefs, 
 is obvious and ealy. But thefe fcriptures 
 are not to come down to us : they are come 
 down broken and confulld, full of additions, 
 interpolations, and tranfpofitions, made 
 we neither know when, nor by whom , and 
 luch, in fliort, as never appeared ftn th 
 face of any other book, on whofe authority 
 men have agreed to rely. 
 
 THIS being fo, my lord, what hypo- 
 thefis mall we follow ? Shall we adhere to 
 fome luch diftinction as 1 have mentioned ? 
 Shall we fay, for inftance, that the fcrip- 
 tures were written originally by the authors 
 to whom they are vulgarly afcribed, but 
 that thefe authors writ nothing by infpi ra- 
 tion, except the legal, the doctrinal, and 
 the prophetical parts, and that in every o- 
 ther refpeit their authority is purely human, 
 *nd therefore fallible ? Or fhail v/e fay that 
 
 thefe
 
 8o LETTER III. 
 
 thefe hiflorics arc nothing more than com- 
 pilations of old traditions, and abridgments 
 of old records, made in later times, as they 
 appear to every one who reads them with- 
 out prepofieiTion, and w;rh attention r Shall 
 we add, that whu:h ever of thefe probabili- 
 ties be true, we may believe, confidently 
 with either, notwithlUnding tlic. ileui'i^n 
 of any divines, who know no m<:r th.m 
 you or I, or any other man, ol the older 
 of providence, that all thole pans and pai- 
 fagcs of the. Old tcllamcnt, whi*Ji contain 
 prophecies, or matters or l.iw or doclrinc, 
 and which were from the l;::l or iucli im- 
 portance in the defi^ns of providence to all 
 
 future generations, and even to t!:e v, hole, 
 
 * . . , , . , 
 
 race or mankind, have beer, iiom tiie lint 
 
 rhc peculiar care or providence : Siiall \s,: 
 infill that fuch particul.ir j arts and p.uu^o, 
 which are plainly marked out and Iviiricient- 
 ]y confirmed by ti;c IVitem of the Ch:':;iun 
 revelation, and by t.'.c completion ot tne 
 prophecies, have been pirlerved Jrom cor- 
 ruption by ways impenetrable to m, amidlb 
 all the ciianges and ciiances to winch the 
 books wherein they are recorded have been 
 cxpofed i and that neither original writers, 
 nor later compilers, have been luffcred 
 to make any elTentul ahcrati >ns, lucii .is 
 would liave falfiiied the law of (juj and 
 
 the
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 81 
 
 rha principles of rhe Jeuifh and Chriltian 
 religions, in any of thcle divine fu.'hb-n -n~ 
 tal truths ? Upon fut h hypotheles, we may 
 afiert without fcrople, that the genc.iioucs 
 and hiftories <-f the Old teltament are in no 
 refpeft foflkient foundations for a chrono- 
 logy from the beginning of time, nor for 
 umvcrlal hiftory. But then the lame hypo- 
 theies will fecure the infallibility of icrip- 
 twrc authority as f.*r as religion is concern- 
 ed. Faith and realon may be reconciled a 
 little better than thi-y commonly are I 
 may deny that the Old tticanvnt is tranf- 
 mitttd to us under all the conditions of an 
 authentic hillory, and yet be at hbeny to 
 maintain that the paiTa^c-i in it whicn r-fla- 
 blilh original fin, which Iccm favorable 
 to the doctrine of tli; Trinity, which 
 foretell the coming of the Meffiah, and all 
 others of fir.ular kind, are come down to 
 via as they were originally dictated by the 
 HOLY GHOST. 
 
 Itf attributing the whole credibility of the 
 Old witimeiu to me authority ot tne New, 
 and in limicing (he autneniici. y of tnc Jewifh 
 Icriptures to tiioie parts alone LIMC concern 
 Itw, doctrine, and prophecy, by which their 
 chronology and the far grcacelt part of their 
 hiftory are excluded, 1 will venture to 
 uffure your lordlhip thac I do not all!) me 
 F fo
 
 8s LETTER III. 
 
 fo much, as is afiumed in every hypothe- 
 fis that affixes the divine leal of inipira- 
 tion to the whole canon i that relts the 
 whole proof on Jcwifh veracity , and that 
 pretends to account particularly and pofi- 
 tivcly tor the ilefccnt of thefe anticnt writ- 
 ings in their prcfcnt itatc. 
 
 ANOTHER rcafon, for which I have in- 
 fiflcd the rather on the diftmclion fo otten 
 mentioned, is this. I think we may find 
 very good foundation for it even in the 
 Bible : and tho this be a point very little 
 attended to, and much difguifed, it would 
 not be hard to fliew, upon great induce- 
 ments of probability, that the law and the 
 hillory were f,r from being blended toge- 
 ther as they now Hand in the Pentateuch, 
 even from the time of MOSES down to that 
 of Ksr^KAS. But the principal and tkcifivc 
 rc.ilcn I'T !< p.irauni; in fu Ji manner the le- 
 pal, d v ..rin.il, and prophetical parts, from 
 tiu- hiiloric.-.l, is the r.ectllity ot having Ionic 
 rule to f^o by : ami, I protell, 1 know of 
 none that is )ct agreed uj>on. I content 
 m\ 'elt ti'.rrerore to fix my opinion concern- 
 in.; t 1 .- aui!i->rity o; (he Old teltamcnt in 
 this maniui, .i ( % d cany it thus far only. 
 \V t - mull d i>, or we nuill enter i:uo that 
 labyrinth i ii;;pu:e an.l contradiction, 
 wherein evva tJic moil orthode-x Je ws and 
 
 Chriilians
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 83 
 
 Chriftians have wandered ib many aiies, and 
 (till wander. It is it range-, but it is true; 
 not only tlic Jews didcr from tii'i Chrif- 
 tians, buc Jews and Ciuifi.io.ns boih differ 
 among thcmfclves, concerning alrnoft eve- 
 ry poinc that is neceii'ary to be certainly 
 known and agreed upon, in order to eila- 
 blifh the authority ot b >oks which both 
 have received already as authentic and ia- 
 cred. So that whoever takes the pains to 
 read what learned men have writ on this 
 iubjcct, will find that they leave the matter 
 as doubtful as they took it up. Wiio were 
 the authors of thefe fcripturcs, when they 
 were published, how they were compofcd 
 and pretervcd, or renewed, to ule a re- 
 mark, ible cxpreffion or the famous HUET 
 in his Demonilration , in fine, iio\v they 
 were loft during the captivity, and how they 
 were retrieved after it, aie all matters of 
 controverfy to this day. 
 
 IT would be cafy for me ro defcend in- 
 to a greater detail, and to convince your 
 lordfhip ot \vhat I have betn i;yinj; in ge- 
 neral by an induction of particulars, even 
 without any (jther help th.in thut or a few 
 notes w'uKli 1 tojk when I applied my 'elf 
 to this examination, and which now lye 
 before me. L>u: loch a digrefiion would 
 carry n;e too il. : nnd 1 feat that you will 
 F 2 think
 
 84 LETTER III. 
 
 think I have faid already more than enough 
 upon this part of my lubjcdt. I go on 
 therefore to oblcrvc to your lordfhip, that 
 rf the hillory of the Old teftamcnt was as 
 exact and authentic, as the ignorance and 
 impudence of fome Rabbits have made 
 them afiert that it is : if we could believe 
 with them that MOSES wrote ev*-ry ly liable 
 in the Pentateuch as it now (lands or that 
 all the pLlir.s were written by DAVID : nay 
 if we could believe, with PHILO and JOSE- 
 PHUS, that MOSES wrote the account of hi" 
 own death and fepulture, and made a 
 fort of a funeral panegyric on himiclf, as 
 \ve fin 1 them jn the lalt chapter of Deuter- 
 onomy ; yet ftill would I venture to aficrr, 
 th.it In- who expects to find a fyilem of 
 chronology, or a thread ofhiflory, or iuf- 
 ficir.Mt materials for either, in the books of 
 th- ^)1 1 t:-ll.irr,c:ir, exjx:<5ts to find what ;hc 
 authors (.t rhdc books, whoever ti.cy were, 
 never iiuuided. I' Ley arc cxna^ts of gc- 
 ncal ')i.K' s r ' r)t genealogies i cxtrails ot hi- 
 llones, not hiltonr s. 1 l.c Jews themfclves 
 allow th"ir in nr.:! t ics ro be very i-Tiper- 
 ftxl, :in.! ] rv>;!iH'i' cx.ir^j'lcs of o.niHions 
 and 'T-"i in tl^.ir., xv'uih cicnt^'r fulfi- 
 cuvri '"i'-a! -i-'ies arc rxtracls, 
 
 viu-rcin rvry ^'.'U: n in ti.c cou; ic of 
 cK !"';'.: :> n mi-rr.ur.rd. 1 li:iverc\! lome- 
 w.'icr^., j , in tl'.c work-j ol S;. JLKOME, 
 
 that
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 85 
 
 that this father juftifies the opinion of thofe 
 who think it impofliblc to fix any certain 
 chronology on that of the Bible : and this 
 opinion will be juilified ftill better, to the 
 underttanding of every man that coofuicrs 
 how grofly the Jews blunder whenever they 
 meddle with chronology, for this plain rea- 
 fon, becaufe their fcriptures arc imperfed 
 in this refpeft, and becaufe they rely on 
 their oral, to rectify and iupply their writ- 
 ten, traditions : that is, they rely on tra- 
 ditions compiled long after the canon of 
 their fcriprures, but deemed by them of 
 equal ant quity and authority. Thus, for 
 inll-ince, DANIEL and SIMON the juit, ac- 
 cording to them, were members at the fame 
 time of the great fynagogue which began 
 and finimed the canon of the Old teltamcnt, 
 under the prefidency of L.SDRAS. This Es- 
 DRAS was the prophet MALACHI. DARIUS 
 the fon of HYSTASPES was ARTAXCRXES 
 LONG I M ANUS , he was AHASUEKUS, and he 
 was the fame DARIUS whom ALEXANDER 
 -conquered. This may ferve as a fa in pie of 
 Jewifh chronology, formed on their fcrip- 
 tures which afford infufficitnt lights, and 
 on their traditions which afford falfe lights, 
 We are indeed moie correct, and come 
 nearer to the truth in thele iriltances, per- 
 haps in fome others, becauie we make 
 uie of profane chronology to help us. Bat 
 F 3 pro-
 
 86 LETTER III. 
 
 profane ihronology is itlelffo modern, fo 
 precan >u-;, that this hclj) does not reach to 
 the greatcil part ot thai time to whicn la- 
 crcd chronjlogy extends-, that wh^n it be- 
 gins to help, it begins to p^rpLx us too; 
 and finaiiy, that even witii thu lulp we 
 fhould not have had ll> much as the appear- 
 amc ot a complete chronological iyltem, 
 and the lame may be laid ot iihuoiJai hiito- 
 ry, it learnvd men li.id not proceeded very 
 u-ifcly, on one u;.i;or;n ma>:im, i'-om ihe 
 firit a^es ot chritiianity, when a cuflc.m of 
 fanclitying profane learning a> well as 
 prophane r.ies, v.hicii the Jews Lin im- 
 pruoifntly laid afiJe, wa"< :.i!;en i:p lv, t!:e 
 Chri:lia!-,s. 'i'iu- nuxhn 1 CK.IU i< i!.: , 
 that prop'...iu- a;;: iiui ny be admitted viili- 
 Oilt Ic'iij-le or i:; v.ix, \.i:erever u !.!)>, nr 
 \vhrncvi r K c.u', l>e r. .ule lo I :, il ;;>/[ lt [D- 
 
 44 ton.:.-;'-! l::ei.b'' at u.ih, <*i \\lK-.uvfi .t <.'.. i 
 hein.uie t.\ :r.\ n.i 'j ;v;..i:on to ;i/-.in, >.,',. it 
 coniirni, i.r U'ppl.i i ) a 1 1 nt,!i< ::i !i'..;.ire, , 
 t'u- h lv ui.i ; .....i i!'. tiu- r.r.v.- auti.un'.y 
 be ; j.\a\!, v. ht n r.n:h':i.: or :!;;, i k ;:Ki (..in 
 be t.'f nc, iv.:t ii:r .<)i.t!. .\i.:-ii i r :;KU;I- 
 iiit' :u V re'r.a::: . ii lemiu .iv'-l-'e. Such a li- 
 berty as t..i v-o .1.: r '[ i-e ..il -)VM\! .n .u-.y o- 
 ther caic , b i\.>.l<. ;; iup;> u :. the * ry tiung 
 tl:a: is t' be p:'.\<\;. liu' v. c- :t\ ;t taker:, 
 very ;.!, : : riy lu bt .ure, i.. lau/r it lacked 
 
 and
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 87 
 
 and infallible writings, when they are com- 
 pared with oih'.-rs. 
 
 IN order to perceive with the utmoft cvU 
 dence, that the tcope and tlelign of the au- 
 thor or authors of the Pentateuch, and of the 
 other books of the Old teftament, anfver as 
 little the purpofe of antiquaries, in hiftory, 
 as in chronology, it will be fufficient briefly 
 to call to mind the linn of what they relate, 
 from the creation of the world to the efta- 
 blifhment of the Perfian empire. If the 
 antediluvian world continued one thoufand 
 fix hundred and fifty-fix years, and if the 
 vocation of ABRAHAM is to be placed four 
 hundred and twenty fix years below the 
 deluge, thelc twenty centuries make almoft 
 two thirds of the period mentioned : and 
 the whole hiltory of them is comprized in 
 eleven frnrt chapters of Genefis ; which is 
 certainly the moib compendious extract that 
 ever was made. If we examine the contents 
 of thefe chapters, do we find any thing 
 like an univerfal hiftory, or fo much as an 
 abridgment of it? ADAM and KVE were 
 created, they broke the comnv.nciment of 
 GOD, they were driven out of the garden 
 of Eden, one of their fons killed his bro- 
 ther, but their race fo >n multiplied and 
 peopled the earth. \Vhat geography now 
 have we, what hiftory of this antediluvian 
 F 4 world ?
 
 88 L E T T E R HI. 
 
 world? Why, none. The (bntofGoD, if 
 
 is lai.l, lay with the dau hterv ot men, and 
 begot giants, and GOD drowned all the in- 
 habitants i-t the earth, except one iamily. 
 Auer this w- read that the earth was re 
 peopk-J ; bur rhcic children ot one family 
 *vctc divided inio icveiai languages, evco 
 \vhillt they Jived together, Jpokc the lame 
 Ijnguagr, and were employed in the lams 
 \voiJt. Out ot one ot the countries into 
 whth they diverted ihcmirlves Chaldea, 
 God called ASRAHA.U iop^e time afterwards, 
 viith magnidccnt piomr.es, a/^d conducted 
 h:in to C'.ur.try called Ghana, n. Did this 
 tQth :r, my 1 rd, ir.ti-nc anurjverlal hiltory < 
 Ccr:a:riy rot. ' nr tenth ii:.ij;trr oi (jcne- 
 fis rur. ci n.-.rrd ion c ot i:.e t.encrations 
 tit Ui-nJ.r.?. Jrom tne ions or oVuH, iom? 
 oi tiie ( t ts> {oiuv^ci 1 , ..n.. Lin'.t ct ti>c coun- 
 iri'.'s |'.v!r,-<;U by I'.tn. iiu:v.h^t iu bare 
 jutr.rs, n lived (rt i .rcurn!ufi r> rs f M3t!c;i:( 
 t) l>ii,'i'rs ot u,u.:i'Kj, or rciatr>r<.s tjf 
 evti.is? j i,ry turn ih ?i,.irter only t >r j;i:cls 
 and i, t; uit -, and t:\tn iJie lirnv'/utic of 
 t'r.en , v, !; ,i f ( is ofif!i i ieti r.s a clue to lead 
 U t->t u t tM o\rry o h'lturKal trut!;, h^sno- 
 lon i.iiv t oiui ibutcci iv> pr^;af r nte error, ami 
 to ii.. ..:c :i,c jic-rpirTii', of ancient tradi- 
 tion. 1 h Ic iiipc:liCt and ciark accounts 
 nor hin.i/h-d m.it;cr tjr purfs ami djf- 
 iiioi.c t L/L.I a r:iuch w, rk uJc has Lxrn
 
 Of tbe STUPY of HISTORY. 89 
 
 made of them by Jewifh rabbits, Chriitian 
 fathers, and Mahometan doctors, in their 
 prophane ex tendons of this part of the Mo- 
 iaic hillory. The creation ot' the firft man 
 js dtlcribed by forne, as if, Preadamitcs, 
 they had afiifted at it. They talk of his 
 beauty as if they had feen him, of his gi- 
 gantic fize as if they had niealured him, and 
 of his prodigious knowledge as if they had 
 convcrfcd with him. They point out the 
 very fpot where EVE bid her head the firft 
 lime he enjoyed her. They have minutes 
 of die whole con verfation between this mo- 
 ther of mankind, who damned her chil- 
 dren before file bore them, and the ferpent. 
 Some are pofitive that CAIN quarrelled 
 \\ith .ABEL about a point of doc" trine, and 
 others affirm that the dilpute arofe about a 
 girl. A great deal of luch fluff .may be 
 cafily colledbed about ENOCH, about NOAH, 
 and about the fons of NOAH; but I wave 
 any farther mention of luch impertinen- 
 cies as BONZES or TALAPOINS would almoft 
 blum to relate. Upon the whole matter, 
 if we may guefs at the defign of an author, 
 t>y the contents of his book, the defign of 
 MOSES, or of the author of the hiltory 
 afcribed to him, in this part of it, was to 
 inform the people of Ilrael of their dcfcent 
 from NOAH by SEM, and of NOAH'S tro;n 
 ADAM by SETH - t to illuitrate their original j 
 
 to
 
 90 LETTER III. 
 
 to eftablifh their claim :o t!:e land of Cha- 
 naan, and to jult:fy nil the cruelties com- 
 mitted by JOSHUA in the conqucil of the 
 Chanaamtcrs, in wiv>m, lays BOGGART, " the 
 44 prophecy ol NOAM was completed, when 
 " they were lub'lued by the Ilraelitcs, who 
 *' had been fo long Haves to the Egyptians." 
 
 ALLOW me to make, as I go along, a 
 (hort rdkiftion or tv. o on this prophecy, 
 and tlit comp'rtion of jt, as the\ itand re- 
 corded in the Pentateuch, out of many that 
 might be n.a.ie. The terms of the pro- 
 phecy then are nor very clear : and the curfc 
 pronounced in it contradicts all our notions 
 of order and ol jullice. One is temp-ted to 
 think, thai the patriarch was ilill drunk ; 
 a id th~t no u.;:n in h^ fenfrs could hold 
 I'uch lanprncrr, or raf> iuch a lentencc. 
 
 O O * 
 
 Certain )t is ih.it no writer but a Jew could 
 impute t > the oeconomy of divine provi- 
 t { ; ncc ti.e accomplishment ol Inch a prr- 
 <i^ r Lion, nor make t!ie Sjprcme Bcin^ the 
 ot lucli a curie. 
 
 1 1 .\ M alone offended, C A N A A N was 
 
 innocent-, i(-r the Hebrew and oii.cr doc- 
 tors v. ho would m.ike ti.e Ion an aciom- 
 phce \\ith his f.itlu-r, atli::n not oni; with- 
 out, but ag.unit, the exprel, autitonty ot 
 the text. CM/. N A A N NV.IS however alone 
 
 curled :
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 91 
 
 eurfed : and he became, according to his 
 grandfather's prophecy, " a fervant of fcr- 
 44 vants," thai is, the vileft and wont of 
 (laves (tor 1 take th/le words in a ienfe, if 
 not the uiolt natural, the molt favorable 
 to the prophecy, and the ^caft abl'urd) to 
 SEM, cho not to JAPHET, when the liraeliccs 
 conquered l J alcili.K- j to OMJ of his uncles, 
 not to lui brethren. Will it be faid it has 
 been fan! that where we read CHANAAN, 
 we are to underftand HAM, whofe brethren 
 StM and JAPHET were ? At this rate, we 
 fhall never know what we read : as thefc 
 crirics never care what they fay. Will it 
 be faid - this has been la'd too that HAM 
 xvas punifhcd in his poitcnty, when CHA- 
 VAAN was curled, and his descendants were 
 exterminated ? But who d^es not lee that 
 the curie, and the pumlhrnent, in this cafe, 
 fell on CHANAAN and his j/olterity, exclu- 
 fively of the reit of the pofteriiy of HAM ; 
 and were tht-refore the cuile and punifh- 
 ment of the fon, not of the father, proper- 
 ly ? The defendants of MESRAJM, another 
 of his fons, were the Egyptians : and they 
 were lo far fr.-m bcng krvanrs of fervants 
 to their coufins the Semites, that thefe were 
 lervants of lervants to them, during more 
 than f nirlcore years. Why the polterity 
 ot CHANAAN was to be deemed an accurfed 
 race, it is eafy to account ; and I have 
 
 men-
 
 92 LETTER JJI. 
 
 rm-ntioncd it juft now. But it is not fo 
 cfy to account, why the pollerity of the 
 ri^r.tcuiis SEM, that great example of filiaj 
 reverence, became (lave* to aaothcr branch 
 or the family or" HAM. 
 
 IT would not be worth while to lengthen 
 this tedious leitcr, by letting down any- 
 more or" the content* of the Tuftory of the 
 biblr. Your lorelihip may plcafc to call the 
 fubitancc of it to your mind i and your 
 native candor 2nd love of truth wijl oblige 
 you then to conic!"-, that thtlc lacred booK* 
 tio not aim, in any part ol them, at any thing 
 J;ke umvcil..! tlronology and hilloi). 1 hey 
 contain a very impLrfeCl accoum of the 
 Jiraclites ihemlelvcs ; of their fcttkment in 
 the laaui cf prcmiie, ot vvhitlv, by the way, 
 they never had entire-, and Icarce cv<.r peact- 
 abic- pnildFion ; ot their divifjoas, apofta- 
 fu-.>>, icj c' ta'^es, rtlaj^lcs, triumphs, and 
 dcu-Jts uiuier il;e oi.afr-nul govirnnu-nt 
 or ihcir ju-l^e.', and ua.'.cr t!:.;t ot their 
 Jvii - .L',s -, or the Galilean and Sa-iuriuin cap- 
 tivinc , in-u \\iiuh t'~iy wcrt earned by 
 the kings of Afi)ri.i, and ot that \\hieh 
 \v.-.s brought on tlic remnant cA this people 
 wiu-n the kingdom o] Judah was dcitroycd 
 by tnok pr;n ^.s \vi:o governed the cirpirc 
 lounged t n the ur.ion ot Nini\c'!i and 13a- 
 b)ion. 'i'lutc tiling ;a'c all recited, >our 
 
 lord-
 
 Of theSruDY of HISTORY. 93 
 
 iordmip knows, in a very fummary and 
 confufed manner : and we learn Ib little of 
 other nations by thcfe accounts, that if we 
 did not borrow fome light from the tradi- 
 tions of other nations, we fliould fcarce 
 underftand them. One particular obfcrva- 
 tion, and but one, I will make, to fhcvr 
 what knowledge in the hiflory of mankind, 
 and in the computation of time, may be 
 expend from thele books. The Aflyrians 
 were their neighbours, powerful neigh- 
 bours, with whom they had much and long 
 to do. Of this <mpire therefore, if of any 
 thing, we might hope to find fome fatis- 
 ia&ory account. What do we find ? The 
 fcripture takes no notice of any Aflyrian 
 kingdom, till juil before the time when 
 prophane hiftory makes that empire to end. 
 Then we hear of Pm'L, of TEGLATH-PHA- 
 LASSER, who was perhaps the fame peribn, 
 and of SALMANASER, v;ho took Samaria in 
 the twelfth of the aera of NABONASSEK, that 
 is, twelve years after the AiTyrian entire 
 was no more. SENACHERIB fuccetcls to 
 him, and ASSERHADDON to SENACU^^IB. 
 What fiiall we fay to this apparent contra- 
 riety ? If the filtnce of the bible crcati-s a 
 itrong prefumption again ll the fir ft, rr>ay 
 not the iilence of pr>phane authority create 
 fome againil the Iccond Ailyrian Mon.irchs ? 
 Tiie pains that are taken to peiiuauc, that 
 
 there
 
 9-f. LETTER III. 
 
 there is room enough between SARDA.VAPA- 
 LUS itinl LVRUJ> lur the Kcond, will not 
 reH !ve ihe liifficulty. Something much 
 more plaufibie may be faid, but even this 
 will be hypothetical, and liable to great 
 contrudict.on. So th.it upon the whole 
 mati-r, the fcriptures a r e 1o tar trom giv- 
 ing us l: n h: into general hiltory, that they 
 er.creafc the obfcuruy even of thole parts to 
 which they have the nearctl relation. We 
 have therefore neither in prophane nor in 
 facred authors fuch authentic, clear, di- 
 flincr.. and full accounts of the originals of 
 antient nation.-,, and of the great events of 
 thole agc.s that are commonly called the 
 firit agfs, a.s dclerve to <-o by the name of 
 hiiiory, or a.s a.'iord luliicient materials for 
 chronology .'.nu luflory. 
 
 I .Mifj'tr innv jirocred to ohlcrve to your 
 w th> has h.i) pened, r.<-r o.ily by 
 
 t!v 
 
 ncieflu.-y 
 
 conic 
 
 cpJrr.ce 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 hum 
 
 an nature, 
 
 yrui 
 
 the o;\': 
 
 narv 
 
 tourle 
 
 (if 
 
 
 l;::i 
 
 .MI a 
 
 Hairs, 
 
 bur 
 
 bv t!,e 
 
 poiiv- 
 
 y, ar; 
 
 ific 
 
 C 
 
 i <-'' 
 
 'rru;-tion, 
 
 and 
 
 foils' of 
 
 
 CKld. 
 
 Ui, 
 
 t 
 
 this 
 
 won 
 
 Id be 
 
 in !:e.:j> diLiri-fiion upon di^rcllion, and to 
 prvli me \>:' n;utii OP. your pace. in'. 1 fliall 
 thv:rro:r C'>n:ert IIP :t h to aj-^lv tln.-|e rc- 
 flect:o;;s .M :;ie ! ; ..'.ir < i antient hillory to the 
 /iti.!y (.t i.iitory, an.i to the rrrtiiod to be 
 vd in it-, as i.:>'.\ as \our h:i:lhip 
 rcllrd \i>uilelt .: l.;;lc ..;;.; :i.;J;ng, 
 I aJu-r \vr;::r. ' !o l.'ii;' a ie:t T. 
 
 O F
 
 OF THE 
 
 STUDY of HISTORY. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 I. That there is in hiftory fufficient authen- 
 ticity to render it ufcful, notwithftanding 
 all objections to the contrary. 
 
 II. Of the method and due reflections to 
 
 be obierved in the ftudy of it. 
 
 WHETHER the letter I now begin to 
 write will be long or fhort, I know 
 not : but I find my memory is refrefhed, 
 my imagination warme.:, and matter flows 
 in ib fait upon me, than I have not time 
 to prefs it clole. Since therefore you have 
 provoked me to write, you muft be content 
 to take what follows. 
 
 I HAVE obferved already that we are apt 
 naturally to apply to ourlelves what has 
 happened to other men. and that examples 
 tak- their force from hence ; as well thole 
 which hiftory, as thole which experience, 
 offers to our reflection. What we do not 
 belL-vc to have happened therefore, we mail 
 
 not
 
 $6 LETTER iv. 
 
 not thus apply : and for want of the fame 
 application, luch examples will not huvtf 
 tnc fame effect. Anticnt hitlory, fuch an- 
 ticnt hiltory as I have defcribed is quite 
 unfit thcrcibre in this rcfpc:t to anfwer the 
 ends that every rcafonable man mould pro- 
 pole to himfclf in this ttudy j becaufe luch 
 ancient hiftory will never gain fufficienc 
 credit with any reafonable man. A tale 
 well told, or a comedy or a tragfdy well 
 wrought up, may have a momentary effect 
 upon the mind, by heating the imagination) 
 furprizing the judgment, and affecting 
 ilrongly ihc pafTions. The Athenians are 
 laid to have been tranfportcd into a kind of 
 martial phrenzy by the reprefcntation of a 
 tragedy of AESCHYLUS, and to have march- 
 ed under this influence from the theatre 
 to the plain-; of MARATHOX. Thefc mo- 
 mentary imprefHons might be managed, for 
 aught I know, in Inch manner as to con- 
 tribute a little, by frequent repetitions of 
 them, towards maintaining a hind or habi- 
 tual contempt of folly, dctcitation of vice, 
 and ad:niration of virtue in well- policed 
 common -wealths. But then thele impref- 
 fions cannot be nude, nor thu little effect 
 be wrought, ui.lefs the fables bear an ap- 
 pearance of truth. When they bear this 
 appearance, rc.ilon connives at the innocent 
 fraud oi imagination; rcal^n difpenfes, 
 
 in
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 97 
 
 in favor of probability, with thofe drift 
 rules of criticifm that fhe has eilablifhed to 
 try the truth of fact : but, after all, fhe 
 receives thefc fables as fables i and as fuch 
 only Hie permits imagination to make the 
 moil of them. If they pretended to be hi- 
 llory, they would be loon fubjc&cd to ano- 
 ther and more fevere examination. What 
 may have happened, is the matter of an in- 
 genious table : what has happened, is that 
 of nn authentic hiltor/: the impreilions 
 which one or the other makes are in pro- 
 portion. When imagination grows lawlels 
 and wild, rambles ou: of the. precincts of 
 nature, and tells of heroes and giants, fai- 
 ries and enchanters, of events and of phac- 
 nomena repugnant to univerfal experience, 
 to our cleareil and moft diilindl ideas an( -l 
 to all the known laws of nature, reafon does 
 not connive a moment; but, far from re- 
 ceiving iuch narrations as historical, flie 
 
 O 
 
 rejects them as unworthy to be placed even 
 among the fabulous. Such narrations there- 
 fore cannot make the flightell momen- 
 tary impreffions on a mind fraught with 
 knowledge, and -/old of fuperftition, Im- 
 poled by authority, and afiiiled by artifice, 
 the delation hardly prevails over commoa 
 fcnie , blind ignorance almoil fees, and rafh 
 fuperllition hefitates: nothing leis than en- 
 G thutiufu)
 
 98 L E T T E R IV. 
 
 tliufufm and phrenfy can give credit to fuch 
 hiftories, or apply luch examples. Don 
 Qy i x o T z beloved -, but even S A N c i: o 
 doubted. 
 
 WHAT I have faid will not be much con- 
 troverted by any man who has red AMA- 
 DIS or Gaul, or has examined our r.nticr.t 
 traditions without p-epofil/Tion. The truth 
 is, the principal difference between them 
 fcems to be this. In AMADIS of Gaul, %vc 
 have a thread of abfurditics that arc invent- 
 ed without any regard to probability, and 
 "'that lay no claim to belief : a:itieru tradi- 
 tions are an heap of fables, under whicli 
 f;.T.c particular truchs, infcrutablcr, arvJ 
 therefc/rc uK'lels to mankind, may he con- 
 cealed , which have a ju(t preteme to no- 
 ti:ing more, and yet impolc thcmldves upon 
 u r >, and become, under the venerable name 
 of ar.tient hiiU,-iy, the foundations of modern 
 l.iblcs, the maicr:.;ls with which (o many 
 1\ llemi of fane) have been erc-dcd. 
 
 IJrr now, a^ n:en are apt to carry tlieir 
 jui!:'.i.i ins in;o extie.nes, tix-:e are fome 
 tii.;t v. ill be ready to ii.lilt th.it all hillory 
 is trihuloLis, and tl:at tiie very belt is no- 
 thing bc:ti r th. .11 a prubablc i;:le, artfully 
 contriveil, ..nd j-Luiibly toid, v, I'.errin 
 
 truth
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 99 
 
 truth and falfliood are inJillin:2,uifhably 
 blended t< gethtr. Ail the inilames, and 
 all the common -place argument, that 
 BAYLE and others have employe.! to eitab- 
 lifli this lort oi Pyrrhonii.n, will b-. 1 quoted: 
 and from thence it will be concluded, that 
 if the pretended hifbjrics of the fir ft ages, 
 and of the originals of nations, be too im- 
 probable and too ill -vouched to procure 
 any degree of belief, thoie hiltories that 
 have been writ later, that carry a greater 
 air of probability, and that boitl ever, co- 
 temporary authority, are at leail infufficicnt 
 to gain that degree of firm belief, which 
 is necefTary to render t'le ftudy of them 
 life hi 1 to mankind. ii.it here that hap- 
 pens which often happens : the premiles 
 are true, and the concluiion is falie -, be- 
 caufe a general axi >m is cftablilhed p r eca- 
 riOLifly on a certain number of partial ob- 
 fr-rvacions. Tins matter is of coniequence ; 
 for it tends to .U certain the degrees of alTent 
 that we rn ay give to hiftory. 
 
 then that hitlory !:as been pur- 
 poiely and fyftemarically falfified in all ages, 
 und th.ir partiality and prejudice have oc- 
 cafion-rd both vjiuntary and Livoluntary 
 errors even in ti.e belt. Let ir.e I'^y wii'i- 
 out oifcnce, Hi/ lord, fince 1 ir.uv fay it 
 (j 2 with
 
 ioo LETTER IV. 
 
 with truth and am able to prove ::, thru ec- 
 clefiallic.il authority has Jed the way to this 
 corruption in all ages, and all religions. 
 How monftrous were the ablurdiries that 
 the pricHhood impolcd on the ignorance 
 and fupeiltition oi mankind in the Pagan 
 world, concerning the originals of religions 
 and government.*, their inftitutions and 
 rites, their laws and cuiloms ? \\'hat op- 
 portunities had they for fucii impofitions, 
 whilft the keeping the records and collec't- 
 ing the traditions was in fo many nations 
 the peculiar office ot this order of men ? 
 A cuflom highly extolled by Jospriirs, but 
 plainly liable to the proffelb trauds, and 
 even a temptation to them. If the founda- 
 tions of Judaiim ;;nd Ch:: :.:r::y h.:v. Km 
 laid in truth, yet what iv.imberlejs i..!)!cs 
 have been invei'ted to raiie, to tnJellifli, 
 and to iupport thele llruclures, .;e\i>t\:;n<^ 
 to the interefl and talle of t:.c ieveral ar- 
 chitects ? That the Je\v<> have lx-en j/uilty 
 of this will be allowed : and, t<> the tii;imr 
 of Chnfliar.s it Motor L'hnllianity, tlie f.i- 
 ther.s of one church li.ive no n^.-hr 10 throw 
 the firfl ftonr at the father 1 ; ot t!ic- other. 
 Deliberate \\ (V-:r..;;:c.ii iy:rv ha^ 1 ,en jirac- 
 tifed ai'.d t .-.rour.v e-i rrorv. .::v to .i::e ; and 
 .t!i i!,e j .<><> . n.*'. . rh..t h.ave lieen 
 eu '." JM.fi'i' 'in .1 i- veience and 7.eal 
 
 lor
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 101 
 
 for their religion in the minds of men, this 
 abufe of hitlory has been one of the princi- 
 pal and moil fuccelsfv.il : an evident and 
 experimental proof, by the way, of what I 
 have infilled upon fo much, the aptitude and 
 natural tendency of hiitory to form our 
 opinions, and ro fettle our habits. This 
 righteous expedient was in fo much ufe 
 and repute in the Greek church, that one 
 METAPHRASTUS wrote a treatife on the art 
 of compofing holy romances : the fact, if I 
 remember right, is cited by BAILLET in his 
 book of the lives of the faints. He and 
 other learned men ot the Roman church 
 have thought it of fervice to their caufe. 
 
 O * 
 
 fmcc the refurrection of letters, to detect 
 fome impoltures, and to depole, or to un- 
 niche, according to the French expreffion, 
 now and then a reputed faint ; but they feem 
 in doinu; this to mean no more than a fort 
 
 c? 
 
 of compofition : they give up fome fables 
 th.it they may defend others with greater 
 advantage, and thev make truth ferve as a 
 
 O f - 
 
 (talking -horfe to error. The fame fpirit, 
 that prevailed in the Eaitern church, pre- 
 vailed in the Weftern, and prevails itill. 
 A itrong proof of it appeared lately in the 
 country where I am. A hidden fury of 
 devotion icizcd the people of Paris for a 
 G 3 liule
 
 102 LETTER IV. 
 
 lictle prieft *, undiPin^uifhrd during h5 
 life, and dubbed a fcirt l>\ th<- Janlenilb 
 atftcr his death.. Had the firlt rruirftcr 
 been a J mlcnili, the la'nt had bten a laint 
 flill. All France hau kept his frftival : 
 and, fince there are thoular.ds of eye-wit- 
 ntfirs ready to attcft the truth of all the 
 miracles luppofc-iJ to have bten wrought 
 at I. is ton b. notwirhftandme ihe uitcou- 
 
 . 
 
 raiment v-} ich thflc zealots have mrt with 
 from rhe nONernn ei't , \^e may afTurc our- 
 fvlves, th't t'lele fiily impoftures woi.Id have 
 been tranfmuLcJ in all the !okn n jM)irp of 
 hiltory, from tnc knaves ot thij age to the 
 fools of the next. 
 
 THIS lying fj irit has rnnc forth from 
 ecclcfiairjcal to other liiit'-r;^r,s : and I 
 rni^hl fiil many F'p'S v. i'h n ;ll.:i,<(< <>t c x- 
 travafr.irt l.:ble c . :!ut l.^ve bvui inv'.rif-d \-.i 
 ievj r.'l n..ti-.n'-, in criehr.nc iMeir anrq'Jit 1 , 
 toeniv ble their oripna!^, ^rui to i^ake ,'.V. rri 
 appear llailiiuus in the .>r^ ot jc\.ce .v.;| 
 the triumphs ot w.tr. ^ ii- n thr hr.nn is 
 well hea:cd, and 'itvotion <^r var:rv, the 
 fcmblaruc of virtue or re.i! vne, ,.n \ above 
 all, (!ilpv:tcs and cor.ff(*s, h.'.vc ;n!pircd 
 that complication of p..(li -ns we te<ni zeal, 
 
 Thr .-rUV- r.ir>. 
 
 the
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 103 
 
 the effects are much the fame, and hiftory 
 becomes very often a lying panegyric or a 
 lying latire j for different nations, or different 
 parties in the fame nation, belie one another 
 without any rcfpect for truth, as they mur- 
 der one another without any regard to right 
 or fenfe of humanly. Keligious zeal may 
 boaft th's horriJ advantage over civil zeal, 
 that the effects of it have been more fangui- 
 nary, and the malice more unrelenting. In 
 another re 1 peel they are more alike, and keep 
 a nearer proportion : different religions have 
 not been quite fy barbarous to one another 
 as ficts of the .lame religion-, and, in like 
 manner, nation has had better qiurrer from 
 nation, than party from party. But, in all 
 thefe controverfies, men have pufhed their 
 rage beyond their own and thtir adverfaries 
 lives : they have endeavoured to intereft 
 pofterity in their quarrels, and by render- 
 ing hiftory fublcrvieut to this wicked pur- 
 pole, they have done their utm ll to per- 
 petuate fcanJal, and to immortaiile their 
 anlmofity. The Heathen taxed the Jews 
 even with idolatry - t the Jews joined with- 
 the Heathen to render Chriitianity odious : 
 but the church, who beac them at their 
 own weapons during thcfe contefts, has h.:d 
 this further triumph over them, as well as 
 over the icveral feels that have ar;kn with- 
 G 4 m
 
 104 LETTER IV. 
 
 in her own pale: the works of thofe \\ho 
 have writ apainft her have been deltroyed ; 
 and whatever iVic advanced, to juitify her 
 felt' and to defame htr advcrforics is pre- 
 fer vcd in her annals and the writings of 
 
 O 
 
 her doctors. 
 
 THE charge of corrupting hiftory, in the 
 caufe of religion, has been al\vays com- 
 mitted to the ir.oil famous chan , ions 
 and greateft faints of c.ich church , .md, it 
 J was not more at raid ot tii;n<:, than ot 
 fcandalifing your Icrdfhip,.! could quote to 
 you examples of modern churchmen who 
 have endeavoured to juflify toul lanraiape 
 by the New tcllamenr, and cruelty by the 
 OKI : n;iy, v.hat is execrable beyond nru- 
 fiiiUion, and wh.it flrikes horror into 
 CMTV niind t'i..r cntcrt.i:r.s due lennnunrs 
 (>( i..c Suj.ictv.c- Heiiv r , (jcn himlclr has 
 been citc\l inr r. ill;, ing and mlultin^ ADAM 
 r.frer hn f.iil. I' 1 , 'fiirr cale 1 , thi' ciu'.rgc 
 l\"ic,r." . ra l\\i' p i ! .ir.". ot every n;i(!"n, and 
 t!,. :;<;is 01 ev:y p.irrv. \Vi\n accul^nons 
 C't i lol.itry arid li:; c; :::"-.;i h..v. nor been 
 bri/j.-'it, and ;i^- ; i.iv.ifd .:*'.. nil i,.^ Maho- 
 r-.-'ar.. 'l'h"i-- v.n:>I;<'i ( ,uilti.'.:iv wbo 
 r .",:::; i fr')-n i' 1 . :<){.: w.i ;>, i" i:r\ i>j t rlv 
 ..!!. ii :!v.- h /:v v/.:: ru::.'.v i .<: thr:t- t\o- 
 ;. .it r n;r i!;e V.'< .r : .vvi \v;i ;r.r.v rir.d, in
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 105 
 
 lome of the old chroniclers and romance- 
 writers, as well as poets, the Saracens call- 
 ed Paynims-, tho lurely they were much fur- 
 ther oft from any lulpicion of Polythcifm, 
 than thole who called them by that name, 
 "When MAHOMET the frcond took Conitan- 
 tinople in the fifteenth century, the Ma- 
 hometans began to be a little better, and 
 but a little better known, than they had 
 been before, to theie parts of the world. 
 But their religion, as well as their cuftoms 
 and manners, was ftrangcly mifreprcfented 
 by the Greek refugees that fled from the 
 Turks : and the terror and hatred which 
 this people had infpired by the rapidity of 
 their conqueits, and by their ferocity, made 
 all thele mifreprefentations universally pafs 
 for truths. Many iuch inftances may be 
 collected from MARACCIO'S refutation of 
 the koran, and KLLAN'OUS has publifhed 
 a very valuable treatiie on purpole to 
 rcf'it-j i:\de calumnies, and to juftify the 
 I\i..iij;:ic:ans. Does not this example 
 incline your lordihip to think, that the 
 Heathens, and the .Brians, and other here- 
 tics, \vouid not appear quite fo abfurd in 
 their opinions, nor io abominable in their 
 practice, as the orthodox Chriftians have 
 repreiented them; if lome R EL AND us 
 could arile, with the materials necellary 
 to their juiliiication in his. hands? He 
 
 who
 
 106 LETTER IV. 
 
 who reflects on the circumftances that at- 
 tended letters, from the time when CON- 
 STANTINO, inllead of uniting the characters 
 cf emperor and iovereign pontiff in him- 
 Arlf when he became Chnftian, as they 
 were united in him and all the other em- 
 perors in the Pagan fyftem of government, 
 gave fo much independent wealth and 
 power to the clergy, and ihc means of ac- 
 quiring fo much more: he who carries 
 trurfc reflections on through all the latter 
 empire, and through thole ages of igno- 
 rance anil fuperitition, wherein it was lurd 
 to fay which was greatett, the tyranny of 
 the clergy, or the lervility ot the l.;ity : he 
 who coniklcrs the extreme fevcrity, for in- 
 ftance, of the laws madt by THM-DOSIUS in 
 order to (title every writing that the ortho- 
 dox clergy, that is, the clergy then in tafhion, 
 diuike-!-, or the character and influence ot 
 R':h a pricft as GafcCOKY called t!.c gre.it, 
 T:ho proclaimed war to -ill heathen learning 
 inorJcr to prornoteChrittian vt-niy-, anvl rUt- 
 tcrrtj [iKfiitHAfi.T, and abetted HHOCAS : 
 he who conlldcrs all tlielc thing >, I lay, will 
 not be at a lols to find the ic.iion>, why 
 hilVurv, both that which wa<; writ In'tore, 
 and a, great part of th it \\hivh lias been 
 writ lli/tc the C hrilti m .:era, is come to us 
 fo impel fevll *i>d io K*riupt. 
 
 WIILK
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 107 
 
 WHEN the imperfe*51ion is due to a total 
 want of memorials, cither becaufe none 
 vscre originally written, or brcuufc they 
 have been loft by devaluations of countries, 
 extirpations of people, and other accidents 
 in a long courle of time , or becaufc zeal, 
 malice, and policy have joined their en- 
 deavours to deltroy them purpofely; we 
 muft be content to remain in our ignorance, 
 and there is no great harm in that. Se- 
 cure from being deceived, I can lubmit to 
 be uninformed. But \v;jen there is not a 
 total want of memorials, when fome have 
 been loit or dcltroyed, and others have 
 been preferved and propagated, then we 
 are in danger of being deceived : and there- 
 fore he muft be very implicit indeed who 
 receives for true the hitlory of any religion 
 or nation, and much more that of any feet 
 or party, without having the means of con- 
 fronting it with fome other hiftory. A ica- 
 fonable man will not be thus implicit. He 
 will not eiUbl:fh the truth of hiftory on 
 fingle, but on concurrent teltimony. If 
 there be none fuch, he will doubt abfolute- 
 ly : if there be a little inch, he will pro- 
 portion his afient cr diiilnt accordingly. 
 A Imall gleam of J^hc, borrowed from 
 foreign anecdotes, icrves ofccn to difcovcr 
 a whole fyftcm ot faiihood : and even they 
 
 who
 
 io8 LETTER IV r . 
 
 who corrupt hittory frequently betray 
 thcmfclves by their ignorance or inadver- 
 tency. Examples whereof ! could calily 
 produce. Upon the whole matter, in all 
 thefe cafes we cannot be deceived cflcntial- 
 ly, unlefs we pleale : and therefore there is 
 no reafon to ellablifh Pyrrhonilrn, that we 
 may avoid the ridicule ot credulity. 
 
 IN all other cafes, there is lefs reafon Ilill 
 to do fo -, fur when hillories and hiltorical 
 memorials abound, even thole that are fall's; 
 lervc to the dilcovery of the truth. In- 
 fpired by different pallions, and contrived 
 lor oppolite purj;ufes, liiey contradict: , 
 and, contradicting, they convict one ano- 
 ther. Criticilni iqur.ucs the orelrom the 
 drols, and extracts trom various authors 
 a Icnes ot true hiilory, which could not 
 have been ; -und ent.re in any orcvf che;n, 
 and v.,11 command our afle,. , \\lv.-n it is 
 formed with judgment, anu 
 with Candor. If tiv.s ai.iy b- ii ;iu-, as it 
 has be-:n lior.c ljrni-::.ii;-s, v.it!; i!:e Iv.-ip or 
 authors v. 'TO v.nr or, pur j, ok- to derive -, 
 how nuis-h .ore e.iiilv, .1:1, i !i,,re cifeclu- 
 aily may it be done, wu!i ihe help <>t I!,<'K' 
 who pa:.i a greater rcya-U to 'rui!i? In a 
 niultitude o: v.Tirers tr.ere \v:;i : alw 
 turtle, either iiu\i;-. '.,;!: u! ;-rul^
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 109 
 
 tion from the fear of being difcovercd, and 
 of acquiring infamy whiltr, they leek tor 
 fame ; or elie attached to truth upon a no- 
 bler and furer principle. It is certain that 
 thefe, even the lalt of them, ;ire fallible. 
 IJribed by ibme paffion or other, the former 
 may venture now and then to propagate a 
 falfliood, or to dilguile a truth ; like the 
 painter that drew in profile, asLuciAN 
 lays, the picture of a prince that had but 
 one eye. MONT ACNE objects to the me- 
 morials ofDu BELLAY, that tho the grofs 
 of the facts be truly related, yet thefe au- 
 thors turned every thing they mentioned to 
 the advantage of their matter, and men- 
 tioned nothing which could not be fo turn- 
 ed. The old fellow's words are worth 
 quoting. " De contourner le jugement 
 " des evenemens fouvene contre raifon a 
 " notre avantage, & d'obmettre tout cc 
 " qu'il y a dc chatouilieux en la viede leur 
 " maiftre, ils en font meitier." Thefe, 
 and luch as thefe, deviate occafionally and 
 voluntarily from truth , but even they 
 who are attached to it the moft religioufly 
 may Hide fometimes into involuntary error. 
 In matters of hiitory we prefer very juftly 
 cotemporary authority; ;md yet cotcm- 
 porary authors are the moic liable to be 
 warped from the Itraight rule of truth, in 
 
 writing
 
 no LETTER IV. 
 
 writing on fubjcch which have affected them 
 ftrongly, " et quorum pars rrugna fuerunt." 
 I am fo perluaded of this from what I have 
 felt in mylcU, aiul obfcrvcd in others, that 
 if lire and health enough fall to my fharc, 
 and I am able to finifh what I meditate, a 
 kind of hiflory, from the late queen's acccf- 
 fion to the throne, to the peace of Utrecht, 
 there will be no materials that I Ihdll exa- 
 mine more fcrupuloufly and fcverely, tha:i 
 thofe of the time when the events to be 
 fpoken of were in t ran fad ion. But :ho the 
 writers of thcje two lorts, both of whom 
 pay as mud; regard to truth as the various 
 infirmities of our nature admit, arc fallible j 
 yet this fallibility will not be furlkient to 
 give coljur to Fyrrhonifm. Where their 
 fmcerny ;.s to tact is doubtful, we llnkc 
 out truth by the confrontation or .!::tcrer.i 
 accounts : as we llrikc out Iparks or lire by 
 t;u- colltiionof Hints and ikil. Wh'-re their 
 judgments are iufpicious ot partiality, \\e 
 may juvlge tor ourlelvcs ; or adopt their 
 judgments, after weighing thrrn with ccr- 
 l.iin grains of allowance. A hrtlr natural 
 fagacity will proportion thei'c grains ac- 
 cording to the particular circvmutances cl 
 the authors, or their general clur^clers , ior 
 even thcli; influcr.cc. '1 I. us MONTAGM 
 prctenils, but he c.<.J, r [e!a;ci a little, tlut 
 
 CjUlC-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY, in 
 
 GUICCIARDIN no where afcribes any one 
 aclion to a virtuous, but every one to a 
 vicious principle. Something like this has 
 been reproached to TACITUS , and, not- 
 withilanding all the fprightly loole obler- 
 vations of MONTAGNK in one of his e(Tays > 
 where he labours to prove the contrary, 
 read PLUTARCH'S comparifons in what lan- 
 guage you pleafe, I am of BODIX'S mind, 
 you will perceive that they were made by 
 a Greek. In fliort, my lord, the favorable 
 opportunities of corrupting hiftory hive 
 been often interrupted, and are now over 
 in fo many countries, that truth penetrates 
 even into thofe where lying continues (till 
 to be part of the policy eccleiiaftical and 
 civil i or where, to lay the belt we can fay, 
 truth is never fuffertd to appear, till fhe 
 has paflcd through hands, out of which 
 ihe fcldom returns entire and undented. 
 
 BUT it is time I ihould conclude this 
 head, under which I have touched Ibme of 
 thole reafons that fhew the folly cf endea- 
 vouring to elbblilh univerfal I'yrrhoniiin 
 in matters of hillory, becaule there are lew 
 hiltorics without ibme lies, and none with- 
 out lome miltakes - y and that prove the bo- 
 dy of hiitory which we pofll-fs, fince an- 
 tic. nc
 
 H2 LET T H R IV. 
 
 ticnt memorials have been lo critically ex- 
 amined, and modern memorial* have beeu 
 fo multiplied, to contain in u Inch a pio- 
 bable feries of events, eaiiiy diftinguiiha- 
 ble from the improbable, as force the ailent 
 of every m. 1:1 \v:u : in his lenles, and are 
 therefore h)rji::ent to anlwer all the pur- 
 poles ot the Ihuiy of hiuoiy. 1 ir.i..ht have 
 appealed perhaps, without entering into 
 the argunv.-.: at ail, to any man *'f candor 
 whether his doubt, concerni i^ the trutii 
 of hiitory have hindered him trom apply- 
 ing the examples lie has met with in it, 
 anci irom juuginLi of the prelcnt, and lome- 
 times of tiie Hi :i:ie, by the pall ? whether 
 he has not been touched with reverence 
 and admiration, at the virtue a:u! v. iidom 
 of fomc men, ar.-d i>t fire .1 :.'.:, and whe- 
 ther lie hr.s r.;/: ieit i:n : .i r n.it!on and con 
 tempt for other:,.' whether IM-AMINONDAS, 
 or P.'i'j; io v , for inila.ue, t!ie 1) (ii, or 
 the Sc::-!o-, 
 
 fhime o; pi,i>lic ;; : i . ate \ 
 
 and \s '.e;:^T i." h 
 
 Jiorror at the pr. :.: :: 
 
 SVI.LA, at the tiY.:i_u-ry <>1 i iii.oi.>' 
 
 and At HI i.i. AS, anJ. at il>< 
 
 cruelty < f an i.,lar.: k:... r nun tun- 
 
 14 tra Maiii anr.a, et coiuiu >vli.'.'-- p;o
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 113 
 ** fcriptioncm concitatur ? Qiiis non THE- 
 
 " ODOTO, ft ACHILLAK, CL ipli pUtTO, flOI! 
 
 11 puerile aufo fac'mus, intcitus eft?" If 
 all this be a uigrellion there-tore, your lord- 
 Ihip will be fo good as to cxcufe it. 
 
 II. WHAT has been faid concerning the 
 multiplicity cf hiltotics, and of hiftorical 
 memorials wherewith our libraries abound 
 fince the rciurrection of letters happened, 
 and the art of printing began, puts me in 
 mind of another general rule, that ought 
 to be obierved by every m:m who intends 
 to make a real improvement, and to be- 
 come wifer as well as better, by thelhidy of 
 hiltory. I hinted at this rule in a former 
 letter, where I laid that we fhould nei- 
 ther grope in the dark, nor wander in the 
 light. Hiftory mult have a certain degree 
 of probability, and authenticity, or the ex- 
 amples we rind in it will not carry a force 
 lufficieiu to make due impreffions on our 
 minds, nor to illuftraie nor to llreno-then 
 
 ^ _ O 
 
 the precepts of philolbphy and the rules of 
 good policy. But befidcs, when hillories 
 have this nccefiliry authenticity anJ p >ba- 
 bility, thvre is mach di lex r n '>.- :t to be em- 
 plo/i-'.l ::i the c!ioice and the ule xve make 
 of i.ie;:i. Some are ta be red, Ibme are 
 to be itudied j and ib;r.e may be neglectt d 
 
 ii entirely, 
 
 t *
 
 ii4 LETTER IV. 
 
 entirely, not only without detriment, but 
 with advantage. Some arc the proper ob- 
 jefts of one man's curiofity, iomc of ano- 
 ther's, and lomc of all men's, but all hillory 
 is not an object of curiofity for any man. 
 He who improperly, wantonly, and ab- 
 furdly makes it fo, indulges a fort of canine 
 appetite : the curiofity of one, like the 
 hunger of the other, devours ravcnoufly and 
 without dillindtion whatever falls in it'-> 
 way, but neither of them digcils. They 
 heap crudity upon crudity, and nouriH; 
 and improve nothing but their dilhrmper. 
 Some fuch characters I have known, tho it 
 is not the moft common extreme into which 
 men are apt to fall. One of them I knew m 
 this country. He joined, to a more than 
 athletic ftrength of body, a prodigious me- 
 mory , and to both a prodigious indullry. 
 He had red almoit conftantly twelve or 
 fourteen hours a day, lor live and twenty 
 or thirty yeats , and had heaped together as 
 much learning as could be crowded into an 
 head. In the courie ot my acquaintance 
 with him, I coniulted him once or twice, 
 not oftencr ; for I found this mafs of learn- 
 ing of as little ule to rv.e as to the owner. 
 The man was communicative enough ; but 
 nothing was dillinct in h:s mind. Mow 
 could it be oihcrwilc ? he had never ipared 
 i tiiur;
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 11$ 
 
 time to think, all was employed in reading. 
 His reafon had not the merit of common 
 inechanifm. When you prefs a watch or 
 pull a clock, they anlweryour queftion with 
 precifion ; for they repeat exactly the hour 
 of the day, and tell you neither more nor 
 lefs than you defire to know. But when you 
 afkcd this man a queftion, he overwhelmed 
 you by pouring torth all that the feveral 
 terms or words of your question recalled to 
 his memory: and if he omitted any thing, 
 it was that very thing to which the icnfe of 
 the whole queftion fhould have led him and 
 confined him. To afk him a queftion, was 
 to wind up a fpring in his memory, that 
 rattled on with valt rapidity, and confuted 
 noife, till the force of it was ipent : and you 
 went away with all the noife in your ears, 
 ftunned and un-informed. I never left him 
 that I was not ready to fay to him, "Dieu 
 " vous fade la grace de devenir moins fa- 
 *' vant 1" a wifh that LA MOTHE LL VAYER 
 mentions upon fome occafion or other, and 
 that he would have done well to have ap- 
 plied to him felt upon many. 
 
 HE who reads with difcernment and 
 choice, will acquire lefs learning, but more 
 knowledge: and as this knowledge is col- 
 lected with defign, ami cultivated with art 
 H 2 and
 
 ji6 LETTER iv. 
 
 and method, it will be at all times of im- 
 mediate and ready ufc to himfelf and others, 
 
 Thus ufrful arm* in maga/incs we placr, 
 
 All ranj^'d in order; and difpos'd with grace: 
 
 Nor thus alone the curious rye to pleafe 5 
 
 But to be found, when need requires, with cafe : 
 
 You remember the verfes, my lord, in our 
 friend's i.flay on criticilm, which was the 
 work of his childhood almolt; but is fuch 
 a monument of good fenle and poetry as 
 no other, that 1 know, has raifed in his 
 riper years. 
 
 HE who reads without this difccrnment 
 and choice, and, like Bodin's pupil, reiblves 
 to read all, will not have time, no nor ca- 
 pacity neither, to do any thing clle. He 
 will not be able to think, without v.hich it 
 is impertinent to read ; nor to act, without 
 which it is impertinent to think. He will al- 
 fcmble materials with much pains, and pur- 
 chuie them at much expencc, and have nei- 
 ther leifure nor fkill to frame them into pro- 
 per leant lings, or to prepare them torulc. To 
 what purpole mould he hufb .nd his time, 
 or learn architecture ? lie lias no dcfign to 
 build. Hut then to what purpoic all theic 
 quarrie> (>: Hone, ;:11 thele mountains of 
 land and li;ne, all tiv.Ic furcits of oak and 
 
 deal ?
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 117 
 
 deal ? " Ma^no impendio temporum, mag- 
 u na alienariim aurium moleltia, laudatio 
 " haec conttat, O hominem literatum ! 
 *' Simus hoc titulo rufticiore contend, O 
 " virum bonum !' We may add, and SE- 
 NECA might have added in his own ftyle, 
 and according to the manners and charac- 
 ters of his own age, another title as rultic, 
 and as little in fafhion, "O virum fapien- 
 " tia lua fimplicem, et fimplicitate fua fa- 
 " pientem ! O virum utilem ilbi, fuis, rei- 
 " publicae, et humano generi !" I have faid 
 perhaps already, but no matter, it cannot 
 be repeated too often, that the drift of all 
 philolbphy, and or' all political fpeculations, 
 ought to be the making us better men, and 
 better citizens. Thofe ftudies, which have 
 no intention towards improving our moral 
 characters, have no pretence to be ityled 
 philofophical. " Qiiis eft enim," fays TULLV 
 in his Offices, " qui nullis officii praeceptis 
 " tradendis, philofophum fe audeat dicere?" 
 Whatever political fpeculations, inftead of 
 preparing us to be ufeful to Ibciety and to 
 promote the happinefs of mankind, are on- 
 ly ly Items for gratifying private ambition, 
 and promoting private interefts at the pub- 
 lic expence ; all fuch, I lay, deferve to be 
 burnt, and the authors of them to ilarve, 
 like MACHIAVEL, in a jail. 
 
 H 3 LET-
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 I. The great ufe of hiftory, properly fo 
 called, as diftinguimed from the writings 
 of mere annalilts and antiquaries. 
 
 II. Greek and Roman hiflorians. 
 
 III. Some idea of a complete hiftory. 
 
 IV. Further cautions to be obferved in this 
 ftudy, and the regulation of it accord- 
 ing to the different profefTions, and fitu- 
 ations of men : above all, the ufe to be 
 made of it (i) by divines, and (2) by 
 thole who are called to the fervice of 
 their country. 
 
 I REMEMBER, my laft letter ended ab- 
 ruptly, and a long interval has lince 
 paflfed : ib that the thread I had then fpun 
 has ilipt from me. I will try to recover it, 
 and to purfuc the talk your lordfliip has 
 obliged me to continue. Befides the plea- 
 fure of obeying your orders, it is likewife 
 of Ibme advantage to myfelf, to recollect 
 H 4 my
 
 120 L K T T E R V. 
 
 my tho'.ighrs and rcl\::r,ea Ihidy in which I 
 was converfant formerly, tor nothing can 
 be more true than that faying of SOLOV re- 
 ported by PLATO, tho cc.nii.ired by him, im- 
 pertinently enough 10 one of iiis wild books 
 of laws " Alfidue addifcens, ad ieniurn vo 
 " nio." The truth is, the moil knowing man 
 in t!,e cuurle or the lonfTlr. iiic, will have 
 always murli t;j Kurn, MU! ;iu- wilc-ll and 
 belt ir.u.h to improve. This rule will h.-iki 
 in th" knowledge and improvement iu be 
 acquired. hy the Ituc'.y ot" hift<>ry : and tl-.-ro 
 lore e\'-n lc v.lv) \\,.-> ;y>ne to tirs lv'i;o'?i 
 in his yonih, iiioiiM n<x nry'.ot it in his 
 age. v " L.rc.Mil in Livv, : ' iay> MON'.TACM , 
 * \vli..t aivHin!- jn.iii does not: an,! i'j,i 
 <; TM-'i'H red iii(;i- v.l, at i uo not." ju!l 
 jo the l.au.ie nun, ID;\V rt.ui at .'irty v.h.n he: 
 did noi read in Uu- luinc lx^>k at li\v-am!- 
 tweniy IIUM y n.y 
 
 own C::^(.T:.!K'.-, or. i;. 
 
 Bv conn :rir.7, : n T'//; : : .niv, ['.:: cxpe- 
 ricnLC at o tiler nren ar.d c/ ;. r ;. , v, .iii o.ij; 
 ov/n, v/c .;i;nic>vc bntii : v, r ar...];*;*., as n 
 were, philofoj hy. \\ c :.:.ucr ..ii tnc ab- 
 Jtract Ipcciilations (>i' cihi % . 4 nJ all tiic ge- 
 neral rules of human polk:v, t > their iirlt 
 pnnci}df , \Vitii Uieie : '\ .'.r.rajTc-s e\cry 
 fp.an may, t".o few me:: ii", adv.inre t'.r'
 
 Of tbc STUDY of HISTORY. 121 
 
 ces a PKuwinit would fay, which no human 
 creature- can reach in prudtvr, but in the 
 nearcit approaches to which the penx^'on of 
 our nature confilh ; becaule tvcry approacu 
 of this kind renders a man better, and 
 wifer for himlelf, for his family, tor t!\e lit- 
 tle com.nunity or his own country, and for 
 the great community of the world. Be not 
 furprileu, my lord, at the order in which I 
 place thefe objects. Whatever order divines 
 and mordiiis, who contemplate the duties 
 belonging tc the It- objects, may place them 
 in, this is the ouLr they hold in nature: 
 and I have always thought that we might 
 lead ourielves and others to private virtue, 
 more effectually by a due obiervation of 
 this order, than by any of thoie lublirac 
 refinements that pervert it. 
 
 ' Self-Love but fcrves the virtuous mind to wa'kc; 
 As the finall pebble fiirs the peaceful lake. 
 The centre mov'd, a circle flrait fucceeds j 
 Another ftill, and (till another fpreads : 
 Friend, parent, neighbour, fir ft it will embrace, 
 His country next, and next all human race. 
 
 So fings our friend POPE, my lord, and fa 
 I believe. So I mall prove too, if I mif- 
 take not, in an epiftle I am about to write 
 to him, in order to complete a, let that were 
 writ iome years ago. 
 
 A MAN
 
 122 LETTER V. 
 
 A MAN of my age, who returns to the 
 ftudy or hiitory, has no time to lofe, bccaulc 
 he has Hide to live : a man of your lordfhip's 
 age has no time to lole, becaulc he has much 
 to do. KOI different rcafons therefore the 
 lame rules will fuit us. Neither of us mud 
 grope in the dark, neither of us mull wan- 
 der in the licrht. I have done the riril for- 
 merly a good deal ; " ne verba mihi daren- 
 " tur; ne aliquid cflfe, in hac recondita an- 
 *' tiquitaiis fcientia, magni ac lecreti boni 
 *' judicarcmus." It you take my word, you 
 will throw none of your time away in the 
 fume manner : and I (hall have the lei's re- 
 gret for that which I have mifpent, if I pcr- 
 iuade you to haftcn down from ihc broken 
 traditions of antiquity, to the more entire as 
 well as more authentic hidories ot a<_ r es more 
 modern. In the ftudy of theic we mall find 
 many a complete frrirs of events preceded 
 by a deduction of their immediate and re- 
 mote caufes, related in their full extent, 
 and accompanied with fuch a derail of cir- 
 cumilances, and characters, as may tranf- 
 port the attentive reader back to the very 
 time, make him a party to the councils, 
 and an aMor in the whole Irene ot arT.iiis. 
 Such draughts as thefe, either found in hi- 
 r extracted by our own application 
 
 I re: M
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 123 
 
 from it, and fuch alone, arc truly ufcful. 
 Thus hiftory becomes what me ought to be, 
 and. what (he has been fometimes called, 
 " m^giftra vitae," the miftrefs, like philofo- 
 phy of human life. If (he is not this, (he is 
 at bell u nuntia vetuftatis," the gazette of an- 
 tiquity, or a dry regilter of ulelefs anecdotes. 
 SUETONIUS fays that TIBERIUS ufed to en- 
 quire of the grammarians, " quae mater He- 
 " cubae ? quod Achillis nomen inter virgines 
 " fuifiet ? quid Syrenes cantare fint folitae ?" 
 SENECA mentions certain Greek authors, 
 who examined very accurately, whether 
 ANACREON loved wine or women beft, whe- 
 ther SAPPHO was a common whore, with 
 other points of equal importance: and I make 
 no doubt but that a man, better acquainted 
 than I have the honor to be with the learned 
 peribns of our own country, might find 
 iome who have difcovered feveral anecdotes 
 concerning; the giant ALBION, concerning; 
 
 o o o 
 
 SAMOTHES 'the fon of BRITO the grand-ion 
 of JAPHET, and concerning BRUTUS who 
 led a colony into our ifland after the fiege of 
 Troy, as the others re-peopled it after the 
 deluge. But ten millions of fuch anecdotes 
 as thefe, tho they were true ; and complete 
 authentic volumes of Egyptian or Chaldean, 
 of Greek or Latin, of Gallic or Britifh, of 
 French or Saxon records, would be of no 
 
 value
 
 124 L E T T E R V. 
 
 value in my ftnfc, becaufe of no ufc towards 
 our improvement in wiidom ana virtue j if 
 they contained nothing more than dynailics 
 and genealogies, and a bare mention of re- 
 markable events in the order of time, like 
 jou;:ials chronological tables, or dry and 
 annals. 
 
 I SAY the fame of all thofe modern com- 
 pofitions in which we find rather the heads 
 of Iwflory, than any thing that defcrves to 
 be called l.iilory. Their authors are either 
 cbridgers or compilers. The iirit do neither 
 honor to themfelvcs nor good to mankind : 
 lor fureiy the abridgcr is in a form below 
 the tranflator : and the book, at leuil the 
 hutory : that wants to be abridged, does 
 not dcierve to be red. They have done an- 
 ciently a great deal of hurt by lubilituting 
 many a bad book in the place ot a good one; 
 and by giving occaiion to men, who con- 
 tented ihemicivei with extracts and abridg- 
 ments to negltxi and, through ihcir ne- 
 <jlvc;, to lote the invaluable oiiginals : 
 I'jr which reaion I curie C o :, h T ANTING 
 PORPH v ROC ENETES as heurtiy us I do 
 Oa*-coKv. The lecond are 01 loine ule, 
 as far as they contribute to prdcrve public 
 acls, and dates and the memory of great 
 events. But they v.iio are thus employed 
 
 have
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 
 
 have fcklom the means of knowing thofe 
 private pafiages on which all public tranf- 
 adlions depend, and as feldom the fkill and 
 the talents neccflary to put what they do 
 know well together : they cannot fee the 
 working of the mine, but their induftry 
 collects the matter that is thrown out. It 
 is the bufmefs, or it fliould be fo, of others 
 to feparate the pure ore from the drofs, 
 to ftamp it into coin, and to enrich not en- 
 . cumber mankind. When there are none 
 fufficicnt to this tafk, there may be anti- 
 quaries, and there may be journaliils or an- 
 nalifts, but there are no hiftorians. 
 
 IT is worth while to obferve the pro- 
 grefs that the Romans and the Greeks made 
 towards hiilory. The Romans had jour- 
 nalifts or annaliits from the very beginning 
 of their ftate. In the fixth century, or 
 very near it at foonelt, they began to have 
 antiquaries, and fome attempts were made 
 towards writing of hiflory. I call thefc firft 
 hiftorical productions attempts only or ef- 
 fays : and they were no more, neither among 
 the Romans nor among the Greeks. " Graeci 
 ** ipfi fie initio fcriptitarunt ut nofler C.\ TO, 
 *' ut PICTOR, ut Piso." Ic is ANTONY, not 
 the triumvir, my lord, but his erand father the 
 famous orator, who lays this in the fccond 
 i
 
 is6 LETTER V. 
 
 book of Tu LL Y DC oratore : he adds after* 
 wards, " Itaquc qualis apud Graccos PHE- 
 " RECYDES, HELLANICUS, ACUSILAUS, alii- 
 " quc permulti, tails nolter CATO, et Pic 
 " TOR, et Pi. so." I know that ANTONY 
 fpeaks here ilrictly of defect of ftylc and 
 want of oratory. They were " tantummodo 
 " narratorcs, non cxornatorcs," as lie ex- 
 prcffes himfclf : but as they wanted ftylc and 
 ikill to write in fuch a manner as n.ighi^an- 
 fwtr all the ends of hitlcry, fo they wanted 
 materials. PHERECYDES writ fomething a- 
 bout IPHICESIA, and the feftivals of BAC- 
 CHUS. HELLANICUS was a poetical hiftorian, 
 and ACCSILAUS graved genealogies on plates 
 of brafs. PICTOR, who is called by LIVY 
 tk fcriptorum antiquifTimus, *' publiflied, J 
 think, lbuc lliort annals of his own time. 
 Neither he nor Piso could have fufrkient 
 nuteiials lor the hiilory of Rome-, nor 
 CATO, i prefume, even tor the antiquities 
 of Ital). The Romans, with the other peo- 
 ple of that country, were then jult nfmg 
 out of barbarity, and growing acquainted 
 wi:h ler.rrs ; for thofe that the Grecian 
 v.oluni-s ini^ht bring into Sicily, and the 
 ioi;i!:r;n {arts of Italy, Iprcd little, or laflcd 
 liitlc, and m..de in the whole no figure. And 
 whaiewr learning might have flourifhed 
 among u,c ancient I'trunans, v.!iic!i wa; 
 
 perhaps
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 127 
 
 perhaps at moit noihing better than augu- 
 ry, and divination, and fuperflitious rues, 
 which were admired and cultivated in ig- 
 norant ages, even that was almoft entirely 
 worn out or memory. Pedant?, who would 
 impofe all the traditions of the four firft 
 ages of Rome, for authentic h if lory, have 
 infilled much on certain annals, of which 
 mention is made in the very place I have juft 
 now quoted. "Ab initio rerumRomanarum," 
 fays the fame interlocutor, " ufque ad P. 
 44 MUCIUM pontificem maximum, res om- 
 " nes fingulorum annorum mandabat literis 
 " pontifex maximus, eflerebatque in album, 
 4k et proponebat tabulam domi, poteilas ut 
 " cflet populo cognofcrndi , iidemque c- 
 ** tiam nunc annales maximi nominantur." 
 But, my lord, be plealed to take notice, 
 tliat the very dillinclion I make is made 
 here between a bare anna-id and an hifto- 
 rian : " crat hiiloria nihil aliud," in thefc 
 early days, " ni'i annalium confcflio." Take 
 notice likewiie, by thexvay, that Livv, whole 
 particular application it haJ been to lea re h 
 into this matter, affirms pofitively that the 
 greaiell part ot all public and private mo- 
 numents, among which he Ipccirics thefe 
 very annals, had been cieftroyed in the lack 
 of Rome by the Gauls : and PLUTARCH 
 :nes CLODIUS for the fame ailertion, in the 
 life of NITMA POMPILIUS. Take notice in the 
 
 lad
 
 xz3 LETTER V. 
 
 !ait place, of that which is more immediately 
 to our prelent pun>ofc. Thele annals couki 
 contain nothing more than ihort minutes or 
 
 O 
 
 memorandums hung up in a table at the 
 pontiffs houlc, like the rules ot the game 
 in a billiard-room, and much luch hiftory 
 as we have in the epitomes prefixed to the 
 books of Livv or or' any other hiftorian, in 
 lapidary infcriptions, or in iome modern 
 almanacks. iMatxnaU for hHlory they 
 \vcre no doubt, but fcanty and inlufrkient , 
 iuch as thofe ages could produce when 
 v.riting and reading were accomplifhmcnts 
 Ib uncommon, tliat the praetor was directed 
 by law, clavum pangere, to drive a nail 
 into the door or a temple, that the number 
 oi yc.irs miizht be reckoned by the number 
 t)f!,jiis. Such in fiiort as we have in monk- 
 i;h ai-.r..il:ils, aiu! oihcr ancient chroniclers 
 or iu;;i;r.> ;u:\v in !x;!M': but not luch as 
 can ^nti;ie tl.v- autli ^r-, oi' them to be called 
 l.illor.a.'is jv.rcan enable others to write hi- 
 llory in thai ii:lnc ; n winch it muti be writ- 
 ten to becon^c .1 1- !i";i ot etb.ics and politics. 
 The tri::h is, r.aii'Jiis, like men, have their 
 ;.:l".:r.i v : and tiie li\v j-.-'.nages or t!ru tune, 
 V.IIK li iiivy icta'.:;, ar; % n : /L luch as deferred 
 moll to i>c rcn,i .nbcrctl , but Inch as, Ix-ing 
 mo.l proportioned to tliat ape, made the 
 lirongcli iiJijireHions on their minds. In 
 thulc riaiio::-) I'M.-.: j - :cicive their do;n;nion
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 129 
 
 long and grow up to manhood, ihc elegant 
 as well as the neceflary arts and Icicnccs arc 
 improved to fomc degree of perfection : and 
 hiftory, that was at firit intended only to re- 
 cord the names, or perhaps the gener.il cha- 
 racters of fame famous men, and to trani- 
 mit in grofs the remarkable events of every 
 age to poflerity, is raifed to anfwer another, 
 and a nobler end. 
 
 II. THCS it happened among the Greeks, 
 but much more among the Romans, not- 
 withftanding the prejudices in favor of the 
 former even among tiie latter. 1 have fnmc- 
 times thought that VIRGIL might have 
 juitly aiVribed to his countrymen the praile 
 of writing hiltory better, as well as that 
 of affording the noblelt iu;->jc:ts tor it, in 
 thole iamc'us verfes, * where t. e different 
 excellencies of the two nations are k> finely 
 touched : but he would have weakened per- 
 haps by lengthening, and have liaruv.cd the 
 climax. Open HLRODOTUS, )ou are en- 
 
 * Excuiicrt ::lii Ipirnntia mo!!iu.s neri, 
 
 Credo equiderii : vivas ducci.r do manr.circ vultus ; 
 Orabunt caiilas mclius : cct-liqu? mcatus 
 Deicriber.t radio, et furgcntia (idcra di'.cru : 
 Tu regere imp^ru> p'>pu!o?, Romano, memento: 
 Hac tibi tTunt artci ; nacifv|i!f imp^ncre inure in, 
 P.irccrc iubjcctij, ct ueucllarc fuperbos, 
 
 1 ter-
 
 130 L E T T E R V. 
 
 tertained by an agreeable ftory- teller, who 
 meant to entertain, and nothing more. 
 Read TiircvDiDEs or XEVOPHON, you arc 
 
 taught indeed as well as entertained : and 
 the llatefman or the general, the philolb- 
 pher or the orator, fpeaks to you in every 
 page. 1 hey wrote on fubjefts on which 
 they wnc well informed, and they treated 
 them hilly : they maintained the dignity of 
 hillory, aiul thought it beneath them to 
 vamp up old traditions, like the writers of 
 their age and country, and to be the trum- 
 peters or a lying antiquity. The Cyro- 
 paedia of XENOPHON may be objected per- 
 il a] >s , but if lie gave it for a romance, not 
 an hillory, as he might for aught we can 
 tell, ir is out of il.e tale : and ir he gave it 
 for .:n luiu.ry, not a romance, I fhculd pre- 
 fer his authority to that of HERODOTUS or 
 anv < li-.e;- tf his countrymen. But however 
 t!,/ :>,ighi be, and whatever merit we may 
 jullly : Icr Vv i'> ;. de two writers, \sho 
 were nhr', ; iingle :n :!ir;r kind, anil who 
 tr.-..re i but l:i:;;il \ f>; lioii.^ or hiltory ; cer- 
 t:-in it i^. in gener.i!, th.-.. th.e levity a:> well 
 a- ! -'jiMCitN of the (iit k m.i..e liiem m- 
 c.:| .M.ie ' 1 kec' r ;n: f i;p : ; the true llandard 
 ot Jiillory : and c\en I'GI.V: irs .mil Dio- 
 NVS'.US 'I 1 ial;c.:i;ui).. . r bou to the 
 Kom.in author . v principal 
 
 men
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 131 
 
 men of th.it commonwealth wrote memo- 
 rials of their own actions and their own 
 times: SYI.LA, CAESAK, LABII-.NUS, POL- 
 LIO, Auot-.vrus, and others. What writers 
 of memorials, what compilers of the ma- 
 teria hiltorica were thcle ? \Yhat genius 
 was iK'aHary to tinilh up the pictures that 
 iuch malters had ikerchcd ? Rome afforded 
 men that were equal to the talk. Let the 
 remains, the precious remains ofSALLusr, 
 of Livv, and oi TACITUS, witnefs this 
 truth. When TACITUS wrote, even the 
 appearances <>t virtue h;id been long pro- 
 fcnbed, an,i t.Ule w.is grown corpipr as 
 well as manners. Yet hillo-v prelc.-ved 
 her integrity, ar/,1 her luftre. S u preferved 
 them in the writings of fomc whom TACI- 
 TUS mentions, in none perhaps m^re'uaa 
 his own; every line of which out-weighs 
 whole pager, or luch a rhetor as F. \MMNUS 
 STRAUS. 1 iiiv.,'e him one among the mo- 
 derns, becaule lie had ci;e fooliih preliimp- 
 tion to cenlureTACirus, and to write h : >ry 
 hinllir': and /our lorufnip vvi'l forgive this 
 ih-Jit excur!i'j:i in honor of a favoriie author. 
 
 VV'HAT a fchool of private and public 
 virtue had been opened to us at the relur- 
 fcc::on or learning, if tiie lat^r i-.iftonans cf 
 the Ro:v.a:i common- wealth, and the tirft 
 
 I 2 Of
 
 i;2 LETTER V. 
 
 ot the fucceeding monarchy, had comr 
 down to us entire r* The few that are corr.e 
 down, tho broken and imprrfccr, compel-: 
 the bell body of hillory th.it we have, na\ 
 the only i-ody of anrient hillory thatdeferve- 
 to lx- an object of lludy. It fails us indeed 
 rroft at that remarkable and fatal period, 
 where our rrafonablc curiofity is railed the 
 highelt. Livv eir ployed tivc-and-f.-rry 
 books to bring his hiltory down to the 
 end or" the fixth century, and the breaking 
 out of the third Punic war : but he em- 
 ployed ninety-five to bring it down from 
 thence to the death of l):u<-vs; that F, 
 through the courl'e of one hundred arul 
 or tlnrty years. APIAN, Dios 
 ..nd others, nay even i j i.i IAKC,: 
 included, make i.s bot poor a-rieivis fur 
 \v!i;it is loft ofLlvv. Amonj^ all the :;d- 
 ve:uiti"U> helps by \s!/u'!iwe endeavour ro 
 iupply tliis !(>!>> in l^.r.c decree, the be ( b 
 are tholV tii.il v.-c !:."d kv.itered ui) arni 
 down in the v.or!; ( i I'ui.'.v. H;s Or.i- 
 tion-. particul.irly, and his letters, coru.i.n 
 irii'.ny curioi'^ anecdojes aiui inltiuctivc re- 
 flLvtior.-. concerning t '.c ii'in.-uc^ ar.d nu- 
 chin.it: >:-." ti 1 . '.t \vi re L.-rr:ed <ui a:r.i:nlb iiber- 
 tv, i,.>;n t' . : n isi.'s C; r/.j ;r.iv.y ro CAT> 
 S.\K%. 'liu- ll.it'-ol the u/'Vernr.ient, il.c 
 c or.llitvil.'jn .I;K! temper oi tl.c Icveral par- 
 lie^.
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 133 
 
 ties, and the characters of the principal pcr- 
 Jbns who figured at that time on the public 
 Itage, arc to be feen there in a ftron<;er and 
 truer light than they would have appeared 
 perhaps if lie had writ purpofely on this 
 liibject, and even in thole memorials which 
 lie lomewhere promifes ATTICUS to write. 
 * 4 Excudam aliquod Heraclidium opus, 
 quod laceat in thefauris tuis." He would 
 hardly have unmaiked in luch a work, as 
 freely as in familiar occaiional letters, I'OM- 
 PEY, CATO, BRUTUS, nay himiell , the 
 lour men of Rome, on whole praiics lie 
 dwelt wicii the greatcfb complacency. The 
 age in which Livv rlourilhed abounded with 
 
 O 
 
 fuch materials as thele : they were fiefh, 
 they were authentic , it was eafy to procure 
 them, it was late to employ them. How he 
 did employ them in executing the lecond 
 part of his defign, we iray judge by his 
 execution of the lirll : and, I own to your 
 lordfhip, I mould be glad to exchange, if 
 it were pofTible, what we have ot this hiilory 
 for what we have not. Would you not bz 
 glad, my lord, to fee, in one ihipendous 
 draught, the whole progrds of that go- 
 vernment from liberty to fervitude? the 
 whole leries ot caules and cr fleets, apparent 
 and real, public and private ? thofc which 
 all men law, and all good men lamented .;nd 
 1 3 op-
 
 134 LET T E R V. 
 
 oppofed at the timcj and thofe which wrre 
 fo diiguilcd [o the prejudices, to the par- 
 tialities of 3 divided people, and even to 
 the corruption of mankind, that many did 
 not, .:nd that many could pretend they did 
 rot, tafcern then:, till it vas too Kite tore- 
 lilt them? lam lorry to lay it, tins part ot" 
 the Roman (lory would be imt only rr.ore 
 curious arv.l more authentic than the ior- 
 mer, bir. oi more immediate ami n^rc im- 
 port UP. t application to the prelcm llatc <>i' 
 Uriiuin. Bui i: is loll: the iui is irrepara- 
 ble, end Your iuic::!;:p v.ili nut bla:r,e JI.L* 
 iur c;q:io: in^ it. 
 
 III. Tiii.v v. !io let u;) Jf)r Ice; : .i::r ;r..u- 
 not r-.-j-ret t!.': lois ct I.K!I;I;I Ir.iluiy : biu 
 this 1 v, :.i lie b-.-iu tu ailt r: :o ti:cm, ih.i 1 .-.n 
 lili..:\ ;nui^ be wr:i 0:1 ::!: p.. 
 r.:i;. ..L li :ll .;t lii- i>- j u ;vCu ..-. 
 r::! ..i r Jt ii: :(,:! r. !.;' i-i i! 1 .;- : 
 
 tie i.n:c!-.! :u!i ;.:\ . 
 
 Jeii'.T5, t;..'i '.I :: j; { 
 
 rx . rr> :'.<(.: ;.. '.': :; !'. , i: r 
 
 thr k : :Vit ;;...! .. i. 
 
 I r ..ii ; t \( ;i ;.. u ... v ! : t;.' .!i\ , .:n<: :IIKJ: 11. 
 
 n:> ti .:.*., lii u<. i/jt i '. .i.i'. i- ini*. , ..: ,: in- 
 
 *'-i - :n './j in' .i'l t'l.n i. nci'wl'at ;> n-.ii.c a
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 135 
 
 true judgment concerning the matters con- 
 tained in it. Naked fads, without the caufes 
 that produced them and the circumftances 
 that accompanied them, are not fufficient 
 to character} fe actions or counfels. The 
 nice degrees of vviidom and of folly, of vir- 
 tue and of via-, will not only be undifcover- 
 able in them , but we mult be very often 
 unable to determine under which of thefe 
 characters they fall in general. The fceptics 
 I am fpeaking of are therefore guilty of this 
 abfurdity : the nearer an hiftory comes to the 
 true idea of hiitory, the better it informs 
 and the more it inftructs us, the more wor- 
 thy to be rrjected it appears to them. I have 
 faid and allowed enough to content any rea- 
 fonable man about the uncertainty of hifto- 
 ry. I have owned that the beft are defec- 
 tive, and I will add in this place an obfer- 
 vation which did not, I think, occur to me 
 before. Conjecture is not always diftin- 
 guilhed perhaps as it ought to be ; fo that 
 an ingenious writer may iometimes do very 
 innocently, what a malicious writer does 
 very criminally as often as he dares, and 
 as his malice requires it , he may account 
 for events after they have happened, by a 
 fyftem of caufes and conduct that did not 
 really produce them, tho it might pofTibly 
 or even probably have produced them. But 
 I 4 this
 
 136 L F. T T E R V. 
 
 this obfcrvu ion, like fcvcral others, becomes 
 a re.tfon for examining and comp.irinc: au- 
 thor itir, mid fur preferring form-, not for 
 rtjccV.n.i all. DAVILA, a noble hillomn 
 funrlv, and on? whom 1 fhouKi not krupl? 
 to cc nfcK rrj'Kil in many rclpcft* toLivy, ns 
 I Ijiould not Icruple t > pictcr Irs country- 
 man G IHIAF.IMN to Ti.rc vriPf.s in c\cry 
 rclj ret : l").\V!i.A, my l;;ui, \\.:- .AviilVJ, 
 fiuiii t:;c ir.il publication ot !,.> !;;lfoiy, 
 or ;.[ !(.al\ v..:s lulpcclcd, of io>> u.uch u- 
 U ar.U li.bulty, in i!t \ cl^j ;n;; tiie 
 n:oii\cs of aLV.cn>>, in l.-\:;ig t!:r 
 cai.l 5 (.1 f\c.its too clft-p, ;iiul t!c(.:iicirg 
 them oiicn ihro .1 Iciit-s ot pn'^rtfiiun too 
 i:c..:;vi, .'.:.c! too r.rtillly wi. ';-'hr. I-i: r 
 !.f U. lj.it ; v u> pt i {. n \N|U> fhoulj nui'! 
 t> hiKoi ;..n i [ oh li;t !. gc-nc ral ;i..!i;i < nn .".t-, 
 a')tiici(, woi:)..! have no^'.i.i u <.j-pc!f I is 
 fufpic.i'r. to the ii: f hcT.;y '- f t. u c fi:lt i!t:kc 
 of J'.P;kNo\, v.j.o I..,,! l'c<n :.r. ;:.t;r, .;nd 
 a | .incJj'.il .:Ct.>r tr.o, in m..nv ot tl.c !(.. ;:cs 
 that P/iViiA i((:r< . fiiKA^;>, hcul.iry 
 to this cli.lu, ;iiul ro (>' u n 1 j ; <\<\c lno- 
 rr j-'hcr, r< l.itrs t!i.r tHishillory .tip.; il>v. n 
 to t r j i..( c v- l.cT" thr oK! r.ii'1 re fu'cnl :n 
 O.i!i'(:,y, a ! ; .::k- >< lore h:s iit.:ih ; th.it !v 
 ri-c! K ro !.;:', t.'i.if t! c tii:kc (;.;,{;; ir.c ;i tl.r 
 truth of the t,. J ;' r .;;orv. ir. it, .i:ul Icciiicil 
 or.ly hirpriirci !)' what means tlic ,n:thor 
 
 couki
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 137 
 
 could he fo well informed of the mod fccrct 
 councils and meafures of thofc times. 
 
 IV. I FIAVE faid enough on this head, 
 and your lord (hip may be induced perhaps, 
 by what I have laid, to think with me, that 
 fuch hiftories as thefe, whether ancient 
 or modern, defcrve alone to be flu died. 
 Let us leave the credulous learned to 
 write hi (lory without materials, or to lludy 
 thole who do fo , to \vrangle about ancient 
 traditions, and to ring different changes on 
 the lame let of bells. Let us leave the fcep- 
 tics, in modern as well as ancient hi (lory, 
 to triumph in the notable dilcovery of the 
 ides of one month miftaken for the calends 
 of another, or in the various dates and con- 
 tradictory circumftances which they find in 
 weekly gazettes and monthly mercuries. 
 Whilft they are thus employed, your lord- 
 fhip and 1 will proceed, if you pleafe, to 
 confider more cloiely, than we have yet done, 
 the rule mentioned above ; that I mean of 
 ufing difcernmcnt and choice in the ftudy 
 of the mod authentic hiftory, that of not 
 wandering in the light, which is as necef- 
 iary as that of not groping in the dark. 
 
 MAN is the fubjeft of every hiitory-, 
 and to know him well, we mult fee him 
 
 and
 
 138 L K T T E R V. 
 
 and confider him, as hiitory alone can pre- 
 fent him to us, in every age, in every 
 country, in every ftate, in life and in death. 
 Iliilory therefore of all kinds, of civilized 
 and uncivilized, of ancient and modern 
 nations, in thort of all hiftory, that dcfcends 
 to a I'uiTkicnt detail or human actions and 
 character.-;, is i.icful to bring us acquainted 
 with o^r IpvCK'S r. ay with O'jrlel.^s. To 
 if.ich and to inculcate the general princi- 
 ples, of virtue, ;:r.d the general rule'; of wif- 
 <io:n and }oo;! policy, which rcfult from 
 kich details <- nilions and char.ifters, 
 coi.ies ior iSi; .'!. I part, and always fliould 
 Cv>Tic, cxpivl.-iy and d;xctly int i tije dcfign 
 of thole vsho arc capable of givii,^ lucli tlo- 
 tr.ili : an 1 therJore \vl.ilfl they narrate as 
 i:::lor:.:ns tiu-y hi:U oken as philolophcrs \ 
 !!-,( Y pv.: irro (;..; lunJs, as it uerc, on 
 cv*..-. v r occ.il;. .n, the end oi a clue, 
 
 thai ivrve.i to reir.iiid us ot-learcliinr, and to 
 ;i,ui- v.' :n :'.- teareh of that mull which 
 r! c fxa.'.ipie b sore us cither eil.:ohflies or 
 illu'.l 1 .'.re c . li a v. ii:cr r.e^lech this parr, 
 v.c .ire aulc huwe\'e. to fupply hu in i;iect by 
 r.'.ir ' v. n ..';c;it;c'i :!;ui iiuiullr\ : and v, lu n 
 c i;;vi.r, u> a [:--.! Killury ot l\;uv;ans or 
 M'ex.iai.'-, '>!' Lh.;v.-lc or Tartar , ot Mul- 
 covites or Nrrioe-;, v.e may blanje luir, 
 
 but
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 1^9 
 
 but we mull bi.iinc ourfclvjs much more, 
 if we do not nu^c it a good Icilun ot phi- 
 loluphy. This tKJivj the general ufe ot hi- 
 itory, it is not to be neglected. Every one 
 may m.; !.., it, who is able to read and to 
 relkc:t on what he re.ids : and evcr-y one 
 who makes it will find, in his degree, the 
 benelic that antes rrom an early acquaint- 
 ance contract d in this manner with maji- 
 kind. \Ve are not only pafiengers or Ib- 
 journer:i in rhis worid, bm we are abfolute 
 itrangen> at the firft iteps we make in it. 
 Our guides nre often ignorant, often un- 
 faiiali.il. LJy this m.iu of the country, which 
 hi (levy fpie-ds before us, we may learn, 
 ii \ve pie ii/, tc guiue ourlelves. In ouf 
 journey through it, \ve are bciet on every 
 iiuc. We arc befieged fometimes even in 
 our itrongeit holds. Ter/ors and tempta- 
 tioiis, conducted by the pr.ilions of other 
 men, afl"!iuir us : and our own paflions, 
 that correlpond with thele, betray IKS. Hi- 
 iiory is a collection of the journals of tliofe 
 who have travelled through the fame coun- 
 try, and been cxpoled to the lame accidents : 
 and their good and their il! fuccels are e- 
 qually initruclive. In tins purfuit of know- 
 ledge an imiix'nle field is opened to us : 
 general hillories, facred and prophane ; 
 the Jiiltorics of particular countries, parti- 
 cular
 
 140 LETTER V. 
 
 cular events, particular orders, particular 
 men ; memorials, anecdotes, travels. But 
 we mr.d not ramble in this field without 
 diftcrnmcnt or choic-, nor even with thele 
 mud we ramble too long. 
 
 As to the choice of authors, who have 
 writ on all thefc various iubject.s fo much 
 has been fr.id by learned men concerning all 
 thofe thv.t delerve attention, and their leve- 
 ral characters are fo well edablifhed, that 
 it would be a fort of pedantic affectation to 
 lead your lordfhip through lo voluminous, 
 and at the fame time fo eafy, a detail. I pats 
 ir over therefore in ortier to oblcrve, that 
 as loon as we have taken this general view 
 of :n.in!:ind, and of the courlc of human 
 afTai:--; in ditiVient ages and different parts 
 of the world, we ought to apply, an,!, the 
 fliortnefs of human lite coniidered, f> ron- 
 nne ourkiv.s .:lmod entirely, in our ihuiy 
 of lt..torv, to fuch hiih>nes a^ have an jin- 
 meiii.ite relatitjn to our piot'llions, or to 
 our rank ami fitu.ition in tiie foueiy to 
 whuli \,t- belong. Let me inflame in thr 
 proirfnon of divinity, as the nobleit and the 
 moll important. 
 
 (\ i I HAVF f.i! fo much concerning t!.e 
 ill a re which divines ot .ill rclirrionb have takrn
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 141 
 
 m the corruption of hiltory, that I mould 
 have anathemas pronounced againd me, no 
 doubt, in the call and the weft, by the 
 dairo, the mufti, and the pope, if thefe 
 letters were lubmitted to ecclcfiaftical cen- 
 lii re , for i'urely, my lord, the clergy have 
 a better title, than the fons of Apollo, to be 
 called "genus irritabile vatum." What 
 would it be, if I went about to (hew, how 
 many or the chiiilian clergy abufe, by mif- 
 repreientation and falle quotation, the hif- 
 tory they can no longer corrupt ? And yet 
 tins talk would not be even to me, an hard 
 one. But as J mean to fpeak in this place 
 or chriilian divines alone, la I mean to 
 Ipeak of Inch or them particularly as may 
 be called divines without any fneer , of luch 
 ol them, ior iome luch I think there arc, 
 as bdieve themfelves, and would have 
 mankind believe ; not for temporal but 
 Ipiritual intereft, not for the lake of the 
 clergy, but for the fake of mankind. Now 
 it has been long matter of aftonifhment to 
 rn.% how fuch perfons as thele could take 
 lo much lilly pains to elLiblifli myilery on 
 metaphyfics, revelation on philofophy, and 
 matters of fact on abllracl reafoning ? A 
 Felio;ion tounded on the authority ot a divine 
 
 O 
 
 miflion, confirmed by prophelies and mi- 
 racles, appeals to facts : and the f.icts muft 
 
 be
 
 i.js L E T T E R V. 
 
 be proved .:<. .ill other fa^-> that pals for au- 
 thentic are proved ; for \ aith, lo rcaionable 
 after this proof is abfurd before it. It' they 
 arc thus prove*.!, ihe rein- ion will prevail 
 wirhou:: the afliltance ot lo much profound 
 realomnp;: it thev arc n ;: thus proved, the 
 authority ot it will f,r,k in the \vurid even 
 with this allill.ince. Tiie divines ol>;e^l in 
 their ililpuu^ wirii atheills, ami they o!>ject 
 very jultly, that thele men require impro- 
 per proofs , jir-.iofs that are not fuitcd to the 
 nature ol the lubjcc't, antl t!icn cavil that 
 lu.h p;oo?i are not iurnifhcd. But what 
 tlien do they mean, to tall into th.c latr.c 
 ab:\irduy t!ie;nlelvcs in their disputes \\ith 
 ftr-iits, and to din improper proo;-, in i-ars 
 th.ir are (;p:-n tJ proper prouii r The mar- 
 icr ij ot ^rear momei.r, my lord, and I 
 make r.ot-X(.ule for the zeal whicii obliges 
 nv (" dwell a little (>n it. A krio;;., .uul 
 }i');vti a; j^KJtion to the ihuiv ot cd. leiia- 
 it-.r.rl j 4 :U"iy, ar.d every part oi jvopii.mc 
 liulorv ana chronology rel.tiive i,j it, is in- 
 ciitiibcnt o:^ lucii reverer.d j-eiiuris as are 
 litre Ipoken or, on a double account : be- 
 lauic hiO.ory alone tan lurniih the proper 
 proofs that tiie reli<;i"n they teach is of 
 I iod , and. ber;iulo the upj.ur manner, in 
 XNhich tilde proofs have been and .ire daily 
 furniihed, cr- .uei ] -rejuau es, and | r .:ve' ad-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 143 
 
 vantages againtl chriftianity that require to 
 be removed. No fcholarwill dare to deny, 
 that falfe hi (lory, as well as fhatn miracles, 
 has been employed to propagate chriftia- 
 nity formerly : and whoever examines the 
 writers of our own age will find the fame 
 abuie of hillory continued. Many and 
 many inftanccs of this abuie might be pro- 
 duced. It is grown into cuilom, writers 
 copy one another, and the miftake that was 
 committed, or the falfhood that was in- 
 vented by one, is adopted by hundreds. 
 
 ABBADIE fays in his famous book, that 
 the gofpel of St. MATTHEW is cited by 
 CLEMENS bifliop of Rome, a difeiple of 
 theApoftles; that BARNABAS cites it in his 
 epiftle -, that IGNATIUS and POLVCARPE 
 receive it; and that the fame fathers, that 
 give teftimony for MATTHEW, give it like- 
 wife for MARK. Nay your lordfliip will 
 find, I believe, that the prcfent bimop of 
 London, in his third pailoral letter, fpeaks 
 to the fame cftVcr.. I will not trouble you 
 nor myfelf with any more inftances of the 
 fame kind. Let this, which occured to 
 me r.s I was writing, fuffice. It may well 
 futHce ; for I prefume the fact advanced by 
 the minifter and the bilhop is a miilake. 
 If the fathers of the firit century do men- 
 tion
 
 i 4 4 LETTER V. 
 
 tun fomc pafiages that arc agreeable to 
 what we read in our cvangcliils, will it fol- 
 low tli.it thdc fathers had the fame gol- 
 pcls before them ? To fay fo is a manitcfl. 
 abufc of hiitoiv, and quite inexculable in 
 v.'riiers that knew, or fhould have known, 
 that thefe fatheis nude ufc of other goijxh, 
 wherein luch paflages might be contained, 
 or they might be preferred in unwritten tra- 
 dition. Bdidcs which I could almoil ven- 
 ture to affirm that thcfe fathers of the rirlb 
 century do not exprcfsly name the gofpcls 
 we- have of MATTHEW, MARK, LUKT, 
 and JOHN. To the two rcaions that have 
 been rzivni why thofe who make divinity 
 their profcflion Ihould Itudy hiftory, parti- 
 cularly ccclcfiaflical hillory, with an honclt 
 ami lerious application \ in order to fup- 
 port chriilianity againit the attacks of un- 
 beh'-vers, and to remove the doubts an a 
 prejudices tli.it thr unfair proceedings of 
 ir.cn or their own order have railed in minds 
 candid but not implicit, willing to be in- 
 formed but curious to examine \ to thele, I 
 fay, we may add another confideration 
 that fcems to me of no frr...ll Kiiportancc. 
 Writers ot the Roman religion have attempt- 
 ed to fliew, that the text of the holy writ r, 
 on many accounts insufficient to be the lolc 
 c;:tenon of orthodoxy : I apprehend too 
 
 that
 
 Of the STUDV of HisTcfRY. 145 
 
 that they have Ihcwn it. Sure I am that 
 experience, from the firlt promulgation of 
 chriltianity to this hour, mews abundantly 
 with huw much eaie and tuccelo the moit 
 oppoikc, the moft extravagant, nay the 
 mod impious opinions, and the moil con- 
 tradictory faiths, may be founded on the 
 lame text, and plaufibly defended by the 
 lame authority. Writers ot the reform- 
 ed religion have erected their batteries 
 againit tradition; and the only difficulty 
 they iiad to encounter in this cnterprife lay 
 in levelling and pointing their cannon fo 
 as to avoid demolifhing in one common 
 ruin, the traditions they retain, and thole 
 they reject. Each iidc has been employed 
 to weaken the cauie and explode the fyflem 
 ot his advcrfary : and, whilil they have 
 been fo employed, they have jointly laid 
 their axes to the root of chriftianity : for 
 thus men will be apt to reafon upon what 
 they have advanced. " It the text has not 
 " that authenticity, clearnds, and preci- 
 " lion which are nt-ceilary to eflablifh it as 
 " a divine and a certain rule of raith and 
 " practice; and if the tradition of the 
 " t church, from the full ages ot it till the 
 " days of LUTHER and CALVIN, has been 
 " corrupted itfelf, and has lerved to cor- 
 " rupt the faith and practice of thriftians -, 
 K u there
 
 1 4 6 L E T T E R V. 
 
 " there remains at this time no ftandard 
 " at all of chriftianity. By coniequence 
 " cither this religion was not originally of 
 " divine inftitution, or elfe God has not 
 " provided effectually for prcfcrving the 
 " genuine purity of it, and the gates of 
 " hell have actually prevailed, in con- 
 " tradition to his promife, againft the 
 " church." The bed effect of this reafon- 
 ing that can be hoped for, is, that men 
 fhould fall into theiim, and fubfcribe to the 
 firll propofition : he mud be worfe than 
 an atheift *ho ran affirm the laft. The di- 
 lemma istenible, my lord. Party-zeal and 
 priv.irc mtercll have formed it: the com- 
 mon intcrcrt of chriftianity is deeply con- 
 cerned to folve it. Now, I prcfume, it can 
 never be iolved without a more accurate 
 examination, not only of the chrillian but of 
 the jtvvifh fyftem, than learned men have 
 been hitherto impartial enough and faga- 
 cious enough to take, or honrft enough to 
 communicate. Whilit the authenticity and 
 lenfe ot the text of the Bible remain as dil- 
 putable, and whilit the tradition of tlic 
 church remains as problematical, to fay no 
 worfe, as the irrr.ncnfe labors of the chri- 
 Aian iiivinc, in leveral communions have 
 rp.'de them appear to be; chriftianity may 
 I'-.m on the civil and ccclclialtical power, 
 
 and
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 147 
 
 and be fupported by the forcible influence 
 of education : but the proper force or reli- 
 gion, that force which lubdues the mind 
 and awes the confcience by conviction, will 
 be wanting. 
 
 I HAD reafon therefore to produce divini- 
 ty, as one inilance of thofe p ofeflions that 
 require a particular application to tne iludy 
 of fome particular parts of h.fto-y : and 
 fmce I have faid fo much o. tnc U.'jjccV in 
 my zeal for chnftianiry, I vul add t,!s 
 further, '['he relurrecY jn of i Tiers as a 
 fatal period * the ch; iltian f)ftc:r. !..s ueeu 
 attacked, and wounded too, very fc/erciy 
 iincc tiiat time. The defence has jeen 
 better made indeed by modern divines, 
 than it had been bv nnri^ni lathers ; ni 
 apolc^ifts. The mo-iciTs have invented new 
 methods of defence, and have abandoned 
 fome p^fls tliat were not tenabl^ : but lull 
 there are others, in ck : ndi:-, whicu they 
 lie under _icat difadvancages. S..ch are 
 various facts, piouily believe., in former 
 tinier, b.it on which the :ruth ot ehrifti- 
 anity h-is been re. bed \..ry imprudently 
 in more enlightened acres ; becaute the 
 
 ' / 
 
 talfity 01" fome, and the ^rofs improbabi- 
 lity of orhe r s are io evident, that, irilead 
 of anfwering trie purpoie for \vhich they 
 K 2 were
 
 LETT K R V. 
 
 were invented, they h.ive rendered the 
 whole tenor or" cccUTiailical hiftory and 
 tradition precarious, ever f:ncc a rtnc.t but 
 juft application of the rules ot criticifm has 
 been inade to them, I touch thefc things 
 lightly-, but if your lordfhip re tk- els upon 
 them, you will find rcafon perhaps to think 
 as J do, that ir is hi^h time the clergy in 
 all chriftian communions ihould ]<>MI their 
 forces, an:i eltablifh thole hiflorical tacts, 
 which are the foundations of t!ie whole ly- 
 ftem, on clear and unqucilionable hiflorical 
 authority, luch as they require in all cafes 
 of moment from others -, reject candidly 
 what cannoi be thus eftablifhed , and purfuo 
 their enquiries in the fame fpirit ot truth 
 through all the ages ot" the church; with- 
 out any regard to hifloriam, taiiiers, or 
 councils more than thry are itrictly enti- 
 tlrd to on the face of \.h.;t ih'-y have tr.tni" 
 mitted to us on their ov. :\ conlillcncy, and 
 on the concurrence ot oilier authority. 
 Our partors would be thus, I preluir.e, 
 much better employed than ihey renerally 
 are. Thole of the clergy who m.<Lc reli- 
 gion merely a trade, who rej'.ird nothing 
 more than the fubfiltence it :ifior'.is them, 
 or in higher lite the wealth and power they 
 enjoy by tin: means ot :t, may lay to thcm- 
 iclvrs that it will lait cheir time, <r that 
 
 policy
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 149 
 
 policy and reafon of ftatc will prcfcrvc the 
 form of a church when the fpinc of religion 
 is extinct. But thole whom I mentioned 
 above, thole who act for ipiritual not tem- 
 poral ends, and are ciefirous that men mould 
 believe and prac"tife the dodlrines of chri- 
 llianity, as well as go to church and pay 
 tithes, will feel and own the weight of Inch 
 confiderations as thefe , and agree, that 
 however the people have been, and may be 
 ilill amu:.'(.i, yet chriltianity has been in de- 
 cay ever iince the reiurrection of letters , and 
 that it cannot be fupponed as it was 1 up- 
 ported before that aera, nor by any other 
 way than that which I propofe, and which 
 a due application to the lludy of hiftory, 
 chronology, and criticilm, would enable 
 our divi.ies to purfue, no doubr, with 
 iuccels. 
 
 I MIGHT inftance, in other profcfllons, 
 the obligation men lie under of applying 
 themfclves to certain parts of hiitory, and 
 I can hardly forbear doing it in that of the 
 law ; in it's nature the nobleft and moft be- 
 neticial to mankind, in ii\s .ibule and debafe- 
 ment the moll fordid and the molt pernici- 
 ous. A lawyer now is nothing more, I Ipeak 
 of ninety-nine in an hundred at leait, to ule 
 iume ot 1'wLL^ 's \\orcls, " nif: leguieius qui- 
 K 3 4i dam
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 u dam caucus, ct acutus pracro acftionum, 
 *' cantor formularum, auceps fyllabarum." 
 But there have been lawyer* that were ora- 
 tors philolophcrs, hiftonans : there have been 
 BACOVS and CLARENDONS, my lord. There 
 will be none f'jch any more, till, in fomr 
 better age, true ambition <rr the love or 
 fame prevails over uvariccj ami till men find 
 leilurc and encouragement to prepare them- 
 Jelves tor the exercilc of this prorelfmn, by 
 climbiiur up to the " vantage ground, " io 
 my lurd BACON tails ir, of fcicncc: in (lead of 
 groveling all thrir lives bdo\v, in a mean 
 But gainful application to all ti^.e l;:rlc- arcs 
 of cnicjne. i ill this h:ppen, the jirotc-i- 
 fion ot the law will ka'ie iic;rrvc to l^c* 
 ranked amonj; the k'.:rr.c.\' pro:"; ;!u,r, , : nn 1 
 whtnevtr it happci.s, one ot the v.u,i.!"c 
 rrovn.'.s, tov.'hi-. h ii'c-n n nil '..!. ] \ i^ ir.-r 
 r.i]iivlic.d, and the oii'.er, hillori 1 .'.:! 
 '' 
 
 'J'hev mult pry 
 
 * * 
 
 the human heart, 
 
 the U crct :rr 
 
 i IKV;J 
 
 quainicd witli tl.c wiiol. n,o;.ii worlJ, th.ir 
 T'u-y may tlilcovcr t N .e ..Si'ruct icalun or' all 
 l.iv. ' : ;.nd they mui' cr.t c tlw l.i-.v., '.,'j uti- 
 cular llaies ti'prcii'ly < ,! 'Jv;: ouu, ;:om 
 rhe HrO rou^b. !k tJics to r:i; nv.-re p-:iicc 
 tiraughr% -, t:o;n t!ic firtt i.iuil-s o 
 fion.s that j r Kl-u'cJ them, through 
 tHcch, poo.! ar.i! !MJ, th.;! ;ey j :o
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 151 
 
 But I am running infenfibly into a fubjcct, 
 \vhich wouki detain me too long from one 
 that relates more immediately to your lord- 
 fhip, and with which I intend to conclude 
 this long letter. 
 
 (2) I PASS from the confideration of thofe 
 profdfions to which particular parr, or 
 kinds of hiftory feeni to belong : and I 
 come to fpcak of the ftudy of hiftory, as d 
 nccefiary mean to prepare men for the dif- 
 charge of that duty which they owe to their 
 country, and which is common to all the 
 members of every Ibciety that is conllituted 
 according to the rules of right reafon, and 
 with a due regard to the common good. I 
 have met, in ST. REAL'S works, or lome 
 other French book, with a ridicule caft on 
 private men who make hiftory a political 
 ftudy, or who apply themfelves in any 
 manner to affairs of ftate. But the reflec- 
 tion is too general. In governments fo ar- 
 bitrary by their conftitution, that the will 
 of the prince is not only the fupreme but 
 the ible law, it is ib far from being a duty 
 that it may be dangerous, and muft be 
 impertinent in men, who are not called by 
 the prince to the adminiftration of public 
 affairs, to concern themfelves about it, or 
 to lit themfelves for it. The ible vocation 
 K 4 there
 
 152 LETTER V. 
 
 there is the favour of the court ; nnd what- 
 ever defignation God makes by the talents 
 he bellows, tho it may lervc, which it tel- 
 dom ever does, to direct the choice of the 
 prince, yet I prefume that it cannot become 
 a reafon to particular men, or create a du- 
 ty on them, to devote themfclves to the 
 public fcrvice. Look on the Turkifh go- 
 vernment. Sec a fellow t.ken, from row- 
 ing in a common pafiagc-boat, by the ca- 
 price of the prince: fee him invclled next 
 day with nil the power the fold. ins took un- 
 der the caliphs, or the mayors of the palace 
 under the lucceflbrs of CLOVIS : lee a whole 
 empire governed by the ignorance, inex- 
 perience, and arbitrary will of this tyrant, 
 and a few other lubordin ate tyrants, as ig- 
 norant and unexperienced as hiir.l'-lr. In 
 France indeed, tho an abfolute government, 
 th:r ". . oa little U-urr. Aru am! Iriences 
 a;c fni'i'Ur.irrd, and h-re -in: 'here an ex- 
 nn;j !e may be Tour.vi (;: .1 r.*.~r. -. .V) IMS rilrn 
 (> I'-xne exiraoriii;: i:v t.ilent;, a:ir.:^l in. 
 rur'..'.' ..'t'le examples of ir.en v.-ho have ar- 
 rived .a the greateit honors and hi^hell pofh 
 t;, no OL . r !!*'"!t than ;'-,;: of .illuluouH 
 >f T , a*trn!ano >f , ^- of (kill in foine 
 
 'k ..t'i; | urr.K- jirnui'/rr 'JIT , i;i framing 
 MV, j<.r itiitancr. fo-.ike rearlar ili^i-'. 
 l;ke hawk:, and llut }. .: t ; .ii 5. '1 tie nobr-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 153 
 
 lity of France, like the children of tribute 
 among the antient Saracens and modern 
 Turks, are fct apart for wars. They are 
 bred to make love, to hunt, and to fight : 
 and, it any of them mould acquire know- 
 ledge fuperior to this, they would acquire 
 that \Nhich might be prejudici.il to them- 
 icKes, biu could not become beneficial to 
 their country. The affairs of ftate are 
 truiled to other hands. Some have rifcn to 
 them by drudging long in bufinels : lome 
 have been -made minilters almoft in the 
 cradle : and the whole power of the govern- 
 ment has been abandoned to others in the 
 dotage of lite. There is a monarchy, an 
 abioJute n.'ionarchy too, I mean that of Chi- 
 na, wherein the adminiftration of the go- 
 vernment is carried on, under the direction 
 of the prince, ever fince the dominion of 
 the Tartars lias been eitablifhed, by feveral 
 clafles of Mandarins, and according to the 
 deliberation and advice ot feveral orders of 
 councils : the ad million to which dalles and 
 orders depends on the abilities of the can- 
 didates, as their rile in them depends on the 
 behaviour they hold, and the improve- 
 ments they make atterwards. Under fuch 
 a government, it is neither impertinent nor 
 ridiculous, in any of the fubjects who are 
 invited by their circumilances, or pufhed 
 
 to
 
 I 5 4 LETTER V. 
 
 to it by their talents, to make the hillory 
 of their own and of other countries a poli- 
 tical Itudy, and to fit themfelvcs by this and 
 all othtr ways tor the fervicc of the public. 
 Jt i> not dangerous neither; or an honor, 
 that outweighs the danger, attends it : fmcc 
 jTiv.ite men have a right by the ancient con- 
 i!:tution or" this government, as well as 
 t^i:ncils fit itatc, to rejTclcnt to the prince 
 the abnkb 01 his adminiltracion. But itill 
 men hav not there the lameoccafion to con- 
 cern tiiemkivcs 1,1 the affairs of the Rate, 
 as the n.ituse (>i :i itcc government gives to 
 liie n^enibers o! it. in our own country, 
 for in oiir own i'.e form, oi a free govern- 
 merit at leall arc hitherto prelervcd, men are 
 no: only i',cii<;ntd ior the put lie lervice by 
 inc circuir.ilar.cej </l tlieir Situation, ;nul 
 tiit-ir r.ilent 1 -. all v.lr.cii may huppen in o- 
 ^/UT>: but tlicy -'<-' delit^ned to it bv their 
 birt.'i HI riK'.ny eaie>, and in all cai< s they 
 m.:\ di-Jncate ti.eiiiielve.^ to this lervue, and 
 lake, in tiiiiercnt d'.-^rees, lonie lhare in it, 
 whether they are called to it by the prince 
 <:r no. la .iblolute governments, .jii pub- 
 !< lcjvi^.c is to tl.e j nncc, and he nominates 
 .i!i ti.olr tliat. lerve tiie public. In iree ^o- 
 vcr:in,tnts, the r e is a dillmct and a princi- 
 pal leiv!.e ilue to the lUte. Even the kinc?, 
 or" luci\ a hnv.teii monarchy ab ours, LS but 
 
 the
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 15$ 
 rhe lirli. lervun <;f the people. Amon^ his 
 fubu\:U, Ionic are appointed bv the conlti- 
 tution, and others arc elected by the people, 
 to carry en rhr exercile or the le^iiUnve 
 power jointly with him, and to concroul 
 the exccj uc power independently on him. 
 Thus your lordlhip is born a member of 
 that order of men, in uliom a third part of 
 the fupreme power or' the government re- 
 fides : and y^ur rigtic to the exercife of the 
 power belong ig :o this order not being yet 
 opened, you are cholen intu an './.her body ot 
 men, who have differc I power and a dif- 
 ferent confti;ution, but v,,ho poffcls anot.ier 
 third j-art of the lupreine )e<;.llative autho- 
 rity, to; as l'>ng a ti.ne. ab the commiflion or 
 trutt delegated to them b; the people lath. 
 Free-men, who are richer born to the firfl, 
 nor elected to the lait, liave a right how- 
 ever to complain, to reprcienr, to petition, 
 and, I add, even to do more, in caies ot the 
 utmoft extremity. For lure there cannot 
 be a greater abiurdity, than to afHrm, that 
 the people have a remedy in reii'Lince, when 
 their prince attempts to enilave tliem i but 
 that they have none, when their reprelen- 
 tatives fell themfelvcs and them. 
 
 THE fnm of what I have been fayinrr i<\ 
 
 / ( *77 
 
 that, in tree governments, the public fervice 
 
 is
 
 156 LETTER V. 
 
 is not confined to thole whom the prince 
 appoints to different pofts in the admim- 
 ftration under him -, that there the care of 
 the Hate is the care of multitudes; that many 
 are called to it in a particular manner by 
 their rank, and by other circumftanccs of 
 their fituation ; and that even thole whom 
 the prince appoints are not only aniwerablc 
 to him, but like him, and before him, to 
 tl.e nation, for their behaviour in their leve- 
 ral jxjils. It can never be impertinent nor 
 ridiculous therefore in luch a country, what- 
 ever it might be in the abbot of ST. REAL'S, 
 which was Savoy I think \ or in Peru, un- 
 der the Incas, where, CIA tcn.As.so DE LA 
 VEGA lays, it was lawful tor none but the no- 
 bility to ftudy for men or ail decrees to 
 inilruct themlVlvcs in thole affairs wherein 
 thev may be actor*, or iiu.^es ot thole that 
 act, or conn ^ukrs of thole that jud^e. OR 
 the toi.tr. 'i y, it is uvcu'iilxrnt on cveiy man 
 to ir.Uruct p.i;r.lell, as \\c\\ as the mc.::is and 
 oj-portuji.tici i-.c- iij<i permit, concern. n^ the 
 nature and mterdts of the ^overnnunts, and 
 thole rights and duties tii.it belong to !iim, 
 or to in.'* lupenors, or :<> !;:>. inic:i(ji.s. "I'iius 
 in ucn-T.i! ; hr.t in parf.Li.l..r. it is ccrrun 
 that the obligations uuier vK.'ixh v.c !:; to 
 lei^'c oiir ( ()Uiirry incic.ilc, 1:1 proporn>!i ro 
 I. 1 /; uaki we iiold, .:nd tiie other circum- 
 
 :i. inters
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 157 
 
 fiances of birth, fortune, and fituation that 
 call us to this fcrvice ; and, above all, to 
 the talents which God has given us to per- 
 form it. 
 
 IT is in this view, that I fhall addrefs to 
 your lordfhip whatever I have further to 
 lay on the ftudy of hiftory. 
 
 LET-
 
 ( '59 ) 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 From what period modern hiftory is pecu- 
 liarly ufeful to the fervice of our coun- 
 try, viz. 
 
 From the end of the fifteenth century tt> 
 the prefent. 
 
 The divifion of this into three particular 
 periods : 
 
 In order to a fketch of the hiftory and flatc 
 of Europe from that time. 
 
 SINCE then you a r e, my lord, by your 
 birth, by the nature of our govern- 
 ment, and by the talents God has given 
 you, attached for life to the icrvice of your 
 country , iince genius alone cannot enable 
 you to go through this Icrvice with honor 
 to yourfelf and advantage tj y >ur country, 
 whether you fupport or whet.Vr you op- 
 pole the adminiitrations that arile-, fince
 
 i6o LETTER VI. 
 
 a great ftock of kno\slrd^e, acquired of- 
 times and continually improved, is ruvrl- 
 lary to this c-r.d \ and lint c one part of th; r , 
 ftock mult be coiivcsL-d iVom the It 1 ; :\ of 
 hiltory, as the other part is ro be gained by 
 oblcrvation and experience- ; f come now te 
 fpeak to yo'.ir lordthip ol Inch hitlory as has 
 an ini:nr,:u:v relation to the <;:xMt iluty and 
 bufiritfs 01 yrAir hie, a:;."! of" the tv.rJ.od to 
 be oolcrvcci in thi< iliuly. '1 lie notes I h/.ve 
 by mv, which were 01 Jomc little u!o thus 
 far, itr\e me no t.:tluT, and I li.i\e no bo- ks 
 to conluit. No matter i 1 Iliad lx- able to 
 explain my thoughts without thdi aiTutancc, 
 and leh liable to be tedious. 1 lu>jc to be 
 ns lull and as exacc on memoiy alone, as 
 the manner in v.'h ; ^;i I l"h.d, tie. at the lub- 
 jcCL requires ::ie to L>o. 
 
 I s\v t!:cn, t!',.it hov.x-vor clolely :iiTa:r: 
 are linked totjeti'.er n: the jnocrc-flion (Jt :.o- 
 vcrnmcnts, a;.d how much 1orvr '^13 
 that follow are dcj '-ni'c ni on th : i jre-' 
 cede, the wiiole connexion dinnniflies to 
 fight as the chain lengthens ; t:!i as lail it 
 leems to be bro!;cn, and the links that arc 
 continued Iron: thar p< ;r.t bear no propor- 
 tion nor any iimihtude to the tormer. I 
 would not. be uncicrltood to ipeak only ot 
 thole ^reat changes, that are wroi ^ht by a 
 
 Coil-
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 
 
 concurrence of extraordinary event* -, 
 inftancc the expulfion of one nation, 
 de(lru:iion of one government, and 
 eftabli(hrnc;:t ot another: bu. even ->f thofe 
 th.it are wrought in the fame governments 
 and among the fame people, fbwly and al- 
 moit imperceptibly, by thir necvfkry effects 
 of time, and flux condition or' human af- 
 fairs. When llich changes as thefc happen 
 in fev^ral ftatcs about the fame time, and 
 confequently affect other Hates by their 
 vicinity, and by many different relations 
 which they frequently bear to one another ; 
 then is one of thole periods formed, at which 
 the chain fpoken of is io broken as to have 
 little or no real or vifible connexion with 
 that which we fee continue. A new fitua- 
 tion, different from the former, beptns n?\v 
 interefts in the lame proportion of differ- 
 ence ; not in this or that particular Hate 
 alone, but in all thofe that are concerned by 
 vicinity or other relations, as I laid juft 
 now, in one general fyltem of policy. New 
 interests beget new maxims of ^overnmenr, 
 and new methods of conduct. Thefe, in 
 their turns, beget new manners, new ha- 
 bits, new cuftoms. The linger this new 
 conltitution of affairs continues, the more 
 will this difference increale : and ;ikho fo:ne 
 y?ialo (T y mnv reiPain IO.T* between what 
 I, rrc-
 
 162 LETTER V!. 
 
 preceded and what fuccceded fuch a period, 
 yet will this analogy foon become an objcc; 
 v/ of mere cunofity, not of profitable enquiry. 
 Such a period therefore is, in the true ionic, 
 of thr words, an epochs or ;i:i aera, a point 
 ot nine at which you itop, or from which 
 you reckon forward. I lay forward , bc- 
 caufc we arc not to lludy in the prelcnt calc, 
 as chronologers compute, ba^kw^rd. Should 
 we pcrfift to carry our researches much 
 higher, and to pufh them even to Ionic o- 
 ther period of the fame kind, \ve fliould mil- 
 employ our time; the cauic.s then laid hav- 
 ing fpent themfclvcs, the leries ot cifcvls de- 
 rived from them being over, and our con- 
 cern in both confequcntly at an end. But 
 a new fyitcm of caulcs and effects, that fub- 
 iills in our time-, and whereof our conduct 
 is to be a part, aiihru at the l.til period, 
 and ail that paifes in <nir time bcniL; de]u-n- 
 der.t on wiiat has palled imcc tii.it period, 
 or being immediately relative to it, \vc arc- 
 extremely concerned to be well informed 
 about ail thole paflagcs. i o be entirely 
 ijrnoraa: abcvit the a; r ,es th.it jtreciJe thr. 
 ^cra vniiii! be lhametul. Nav louie indul- 
 gcnc'- Mi.iv be li.ul to a terr.;'c'r.t:e Liirioiity 
 ;n the: rcvi'-sv oj tiicni. HUL to be learned 
 ilxnu th-rti !. .^ ndicui;)i:s alicCLition in .iny 
 tna:i v.iio li.c.i.r. to '^c uieii.l to the piclenc
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 163 
 
 age. Down to this acra let us read hiftory : 
 from this acra, and down to our own time, 
 k-t us lludy it. 
 
 THE end of the fifteenth century fcema 
 to he jiilr. fuch a period as I hr/e been 
 ciefcribing,' for thole who live ia the 
 eighteenth, and who inhabit the weftern 
 parts of Europe. A little before, or a 
 little after this point of time, all thofe 
 events happened, and all thofe revolutions 
 began, that have produced Ib vait a change 
 In the manners, culloms, and interefts of 
 particular nations, and in the whole po- 
 licy, ecclcfiaftical and civil, of theie pares 
 of the world. I mUft defcend here into 
 fome detail, not of hiftories, collections, 
 or memorials ; for all thefe are well enough 
 known : and tho the contents are in the 
 heads of few, the books are in the hands of 
 many. But inftead of (hewing your lord- 
 ihip where to look, I (hall contribute more 
 to your entertainment and inftruclion, by 
 frarking our, as well as my memory will 
 fcrve me to do ir, what you are to look for, 
 and by furnilhing a kind of clue to your 
 Rudies. I mall give, according to cuftom, 
 the iirlt place to religion. 
 
 L 2 A view
 
 164 LETT 1- R VI. 
 
 A view of the ccclcfinftical njovernmmC 
 of Europe from the beginning of the 
 fixtccnth century. 
 
 OLM:KVE then, mv 1 rd, th.ir the demo- 
 lition ol the papal throne v.::-, r.jt attempt- 
 ed with fucccls till tlie bc^ ir.r.inu; oi the fix- 
 tcenth century. If you are curious to call 
 your eyes back, you \sill find BJ.KKNCFR 
 in the eleventh, who v.as lout) lilcnccd ^ 
 AKXOLUUS in the f.une, wlio w.is ioot\ 
 handed; V'ALDO in the twelfth, and our 
 \VICKI.IKF in the fourteenth, 2o v/ell ;a 
 others pcrliaps wh(>ni I tio not recollect. 
 Sometimes the doctrines of tlie church \\erc 
 alone attack'.-d -, ;:nd luir.rti'nes ii;e dcciriii'-, 
 the difciplmc, ami the uiurpiitioir; of the 
 pope. But little nie>, kindled in conu-rs 
 of a dark world, were loon Killed by tii.it 
 great abettor of chriilian unity, the hang- 
 man. \Yhen they iprcd and l)l.!/(\i our, 
 as in the caie ot t!e Albjj-eois and of the 
 IIi.fMtci, armies were railed to exi.n^uilh 
 them by torrents of blood ; and fi:c.h iaints 
 as I )o MI NIC, with the crucibx in their 
 har's Kilhf.ited the troop-, to t.V i;:mo(l 
 b'irb.'.r.'fv. ^ <>ur lorciUiip v.;il find tii;.i tl.c 
 thuixh of Koine ua< n.a;nu::ncd !>v U.^h 
 
 than
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 165 
 
 Charitable and falutary means, among o- 
 tlicrs, till the period fpokcn of : and you 
 will be curious, I am lure, to enquire how 
 this period came to be more iatal to her 
 than any former conjuncture. A multitude 
 of circumstances, which you will cafily 
 trace in the hillories of the fifteenth and 
 fixteenth centuries, to go no further back, 
 concurred to bring about this great event : 
 and a multitude ot others as eafy to be tra- 
 ced, concurred to hinder the demolition 
 from becoming total, and to prop the tot- 
 tering fabric. Amoiio; thele circumftances, 
 
 t_y - \_ * 
 
 there is one lefs complicated and more ob- 
 vious than others, which was of principal 
 and univerfal influence. The art of print- 
 ing had been invented about forty or fifty 
 years before the period we fix : from that 
 time, the: refurreclion of letters hailened on 
 a-pace , and at this period they had made 
 great progrefs, and were cultivated with 
 great application. MAHOMET the le- 
 C'.::ui drove them out of the ealt into the 
 welt i and the pope; proved worfe politi- 
 cians than the mu fries in this refpect. NI- 
 CHOLAS the fifth encouraged learning; and 
 
 O O 
 
 learned a.m. SIXTUS the fourth was, if I 
 miitake nor, a great collector of books at 
 lealt : and LLO tlie tenth was the patron 
 of every ait >tnd icience. The magicians
 
 166 LETTER VI. 
 
 them reive* broke the charm by which they 
 had bound mankind for fo many ages: and 
 the adventure of that krvfht-crrant, who, 
 thinking liimlclf happy in the arms of a 
 celeiti.il nymph, found that he was the mi- 
 ferablc flave of an internal hag, was in fome 
 fort renewed. A:> loon as the means of ac- 
 quiring and fpreading information grc\v 
 common, it i* no wonder thr.r a I'vllem was 
 unravelled, uhieh could not hav- been wo- 
 ven with fuctefs in any a::vs but t holer ot 
 grofs ignorance, and credulous iupcriH- 
 tion. I might point out to your lordfhip 
 many oilier immedutc cauK-s, lomc gene- 
 ral hke this that I have mentioned, and 
 fome particular. 'I he grc.it ichiim, for in- 
 ilance, that ended in the beginning of the 
 fifteenth tenrurv, and in the council of 
 ConPiance, had o^c.iiioi.eti proiligious lc.m- 
 cial. Two or three v;*..ii . o C HKI > i , two 
 or three infallible Leads ot the church, 
 roaming ..bout the world a: a t::ii'*, t'jrnifh- 
 cd nutter ot riclK ule as ucil as ft andal : 
 and wluill [hey api-ealcci, for fo they did 
 in i fuel, to t!.e lai:y, and reproncl'.ed and 
 cx^ummunic.ued fine ;ir."ifu-r, they taught 
 t!ir v. '.:'it! v. I .:t to t!.!':k of iLe !!,!' 'turuv^ 
 
 1 ' : ; 
 
 f ,:!'
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 167 
 
 that followed the Council of Conftance. 
 The horrid crimes of ALEXANDER the fixth, 
 the fawcy ambition of JULIUS the fecond, 
 the immenfe profufion and fcandalous exac- 
 tions or LEO the tc.nth ; ail thele events and 
 characters, following in a continued feries 
 from the beginning of one century, prepared 
 the way for the revolution that happened 
 in the beginning of the next. The It ate of 
 Germany, the Itate of England, and that 
 of the North, were particular caufes, in 
 thele leverul countries, of this revolution. 
 Such were many remarkable events that 
 happened about the lame time, and a little 
 before ir, in thefc an<i in other nations ; 
 and iuch were likewile the characters of 
 many of the princes of that age, fome of 
 whom favoured the reformation, like the 
 elector of Saxony, on a principle of confci- 
 cnce-, and molt of whom favoured it, juft 
 as others oppofed it, on a principle of in- 
 terelt. This your lordlhip will difcover 
 mamfeltly to have been the cale , ancj the 
 dole difference you will find between HEN- 
 RY the eighth and FRANCIS the firlt, one of 
 whom ieparated from the pope, as the other 
 adhered to him, is this : HENRY the eighth 
 divided, with the lecular clergy and his 
 people, the Ipoil of the pope, and his larcl- 
 Jites, the monks-, FRAKCIS the firft divid- 
 L ed.
 
 i6S LETT K R VI. 
 
 cd, with the pop?, the lpo:l of his cK'rgy 
 fecular and regular, anil oi his people. 
 \Vitii the lame impartial eye that your 
 Jordlhip lijrvcys the abuks of religion, and 
 the corruptions ofr the church as well as 
 court ol Rome, wh'.ch brought on the re- 
 formation at this period ; you will oblerve 
 the characters and condufY of thole \vho be- 
 {Mn, who propagated, anil who favoured 
 the reformation : and from your obletva- 
 tton of thele, as well as of the unfyltemati- 
 cal manner in which it was carru-d on at 
 fame tnr.c in various plates, and of die 
 v. ant of concert, nay even of charity, 
 among the reformers you will Karn what 
 to think of the lever.: 1 religions that unite in 
 then i.ppoiiiion to the Roman, and yet hate 
 c:;c ai.o-J-.-jr moll heartily -, what t) think 
 f,! i':i- fcv.-. 1 ::1 i'. ci.i that have fprouted, like 
 iinkci-', uom the \.::r.c prcat loot.- , .:rxl 
 wh.it the iriie . ,;u ,.!<.s .ne tt .n/.i ;tant 
 
 r.. j*c'iv) ..u no 
 bei: \r, l-'i I.i'NitH made iu* cilabliflicv.enc 
 i;i Ci.-im..ny; nil /.<. iNr;r.jrs bc-.-.n ano- 
 r.cr in Swilleriar.ii, v. ii;.. l i C. -\i.\i\ carried 
 
 on, ur.u, U^e AMI: iti > \ i. JM ::: s who 
 
 l.'Ji! 'A t \i C H .'. I > i i.i'.ii ,< C < i , \{| i , 5 I ol)iH (I 
 t'u- f : rL av.!vcllt..!c-r ol hi', i. >.;, 
 d.r rciv: :rvit!'n ii: ('i.i iOi,.".try v..-.' 
 'i i:::dcr IM-V; .\ t n ti:e !..\;ii an i
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 169 
 
 IJITH. I via popifn ecclcfiaftical policy 
 is no longer the fame fince that aera. His 
 holint'fs is no longer at the head of due 
 whole wdlcrn church : and to keep the part 
 chut adhere.-, to him, he is obliged to 
 loolen their chains, and to lighten his yoke. 
 The fpirit and pretenfions of his court arc 
 the fume, but not the power. He governs 
 by expedient and management more, nd 
 by authority iefs. His decrees and his briefs 
 are in danger of being rcfufed, explained 
 away, or evaded, unlcis he ncgociatcs their 
 acceptance before he gives them, governs 
 in concert with his flock, and feeds his 
 fheep according to their humor and interelt. 
 In Ihort, his excommunications, that made 
 the greateit emperors tremble, are delpif- 
 ed by tiie loweit members of his own com- 
 munion : and the remaining attachment 
 
 y C 1 
 
 to him has been, from this aera, rather a 
 political expedient to preierve an appear- 
 ance ot un: r y, than ;i principle of con- 
 fcierice; \viuiLever lome bigotted princes 
 may have thought, whatever ambitious 
 prelates and hireling fcribblers may have 
 taught, and whatever a people, worked up 
 to enthufialm by fanatical preachers, may 
 have acted. Proofs of this \vci;ld be ealy 
 to draw, not only from the conduct ofiuch 
 princes as FhRDiNAND the firft and MAXI- 
 
 AULIAN
 
 170 LETTER VI. 
 
 MI LI AS the fccond, who could fcarce be 
 cftcemed papifts though they continued in the 
 pope's communion : but even from that of 
 princes who pcrfecuted their protellant fub- 
 jects with great violence. Enough has been 
 laid, I think to (hew your lordfhip how 
 little need there is of going up higher than 
 the beginning of the fixteenth century in the 
 itiKJy of hillory, to acquire all the know- 
 ledge neccflhry at this time in ecclcfiaftical 
 polity, or m civil policy as far as it is rela- 
 tive to this. I liitoric.il monuments of this 
 fort arc in every man's hand, tin: tacts are 
 fufficicntly verified, and the entire fcenes 
 lie open to our oblervarion : even that Iccne 
 of lolemn rchncd banter exhibited in the 
 council ot Trent, impairs on no m.in who 
 reads I*AOLO, as well 21 I'.'.LI, AVJCINI, and 
 the letters ol VAKCAS. 
 
 A view
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY, 
 
 A view of the civil government of 
 Europe in the beginning of the iix- 
 teenth century. 
 
 I. In FRANCE. 
 
 A VERY little higher need we go, to ob- 
 ferve thofe great changes in the civil confti- 
 tiitions ot the principal nations of Europe, 
 in the partition of power among them, 
 and by confequence in the whole lyitem of 
 European policy, which have operated Jb 
 ilrongly tor more than two centuries, and 
 which operate ilill. I will not affront the 
 memory of our HENRY the fcventh fo 
 touch as to compare him to LEWIS the 
 eleventh : and yet I perceive fome refem- 
 blance between them ; which would per- 
 haps appear greater, if PHILIP of Com- 
 min?s had wrote- the Hiilory of HEXRY as 
 well as that or Ltwis; or if my lord BA- 
 CON had wrote that of LEWIS as well as 
 that of HENRY. This prince came to the 
 crown of England a little before the clofe 
 of the fifteenth century : and LEWIS began 
 his reign in France about twenty years 
 iboner. Theie reigns make remarkable 
 periods in the hillories of bo:h nations. 
 
 To
 
 i 7 z LET T E R VI. 
 
 To reduce the power, piivileges, and 
 feflfions of the nobility, and to increafe the 
 wealth and authority of the crown, was the 
 principal ohirct of botii. In this their iuc- 
 cels was fo great, that the conftitutions of 
 the two governments have had, iir.cc that 
 time, more rciemblancc, in cair.e and in 
 form than in reality, to the constitutions 
 that prevailed bctorc. LLNVIS the eleventh 
 was the f;rfr, fay the French, " qui mit 
 *' les rois hors cie page." The indepen- 
 dency ot the nobility had rendered the itate 
 of his predeccflbrs very dependent, and 
 their power precarious. '1 hey were tiie 
 rovercigr.s of |L r reat vafials; but thefe vaf- 
 fais v re ic pi;v. -jrn:!, i!ui one of them was 
 lu'r/ t'Uu^ .ti'le, uii*l tvM> <jr liute oi them 
 alNv.r,>, K; j'ive l..w to i!.e iovercipn. 
 1, i NN ; i c. ;n:': to the crown, the 
 bee; i cnven c;uc or their pof- 
 
 kflios:s in r : 
 
 .::. *e, ov the poor ( 1 
 
 :ar.if tt r c/t 
 
 H t N K V t:\r 
 
 lixth, the i!')i,( in 
 
 c troubles 
 
 or hr. re:.-i:, 
 
 ar.,! t!' t e delt i lOTi <>l 
 
 the houlc 
 
 ot Buiyui lv 
 
 iio:n ins alii.iiK c, r. 
 
 :m h ir.'-;c: 
 
 i:ian by the 
 
 ul.:hry of (..' i; A K i 
 
 i. . li.e ie- 
 
 vrr.ih, v. ho 
 
 leeir, j to h.ixe l)ren 
 
 JK .tiier a 
 
 theater l.er> 
 
 nor a ,-r< a;er polit 
 
 t Kill tii.tll 
 
 lltvx v the 
 
 iixth -. .,-, 1 i vrrj ;:, 
 
 an by the: 
 
 v;gor aud i : 
 
 ..0:1 of lv: l-:v:,; !i , 
 
 ;:v: i :: y . ri
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 173 
 
 his fcrvice. After LEWIS came to the 
 crown, EDWARD the fourth made a mew 
 of carrying the war again into France; but 
 he foon returned home, and your lordfhip 
 will not be at a lofs to find much better 
 realbns for his doing Jo, in the fituation of 
 liis allairs and the characters of his allies, 
 than thole which PHILIP of Commines 
 draws from the artifice of LEWIS, from his 
 good cheer, and his pen (ions. Now from 
 this time our pretenfions on France were 
 in effect given up: and CHARLES the bold, 
 the lad prince cf the houfe of Burgundy, 
 being killed, LEWIS had no vaflal able to 
 molett him. lie re-united the ciucchy of 
 Burgundy and Artels to his crown, he ac- 
 quired Provence by git'r, and his ion Bri- 
 tany by marriage : and thus France grew, 
 in the courie of a fe\v years, into that great: 
 and compact body which we behold at this 
 time. The Hillory of France before this 
 period, is like that of Germany, a compli- 
 cated hittory of fcver.il Hates and feveral in- 
 terelts ; fometimes concurring like mem- 
 bers of the fame nioni'.'.'chy, and fometimes 
 warring on one another. Since this period, 
 the hiltory of France h the hiftory of one 
 ilate under a more u.Viform and orderly go- 
 verniiK'n: ; t!:e hiitory of a monarchy 
 
 where-
 
 j 7 4 LETT F. R VI. 
 
 wherein tlic prince is poflefibr of fomr, .11 
 well as lord of all the ^rc-.u tictTes : and, 
 the authority of many tyrants centering in 
 or.c, tho the people arc not become more 
 free, yet the whole fyllem of domeitic po- 
 licy is entirely charged. Peace at home is 
 better lecured, a;u! the nation grown litter 
 to carry war abroad. 1 he ;overnors of 
 great provinces ;u.d of Itrong fort relies 
 have oppolcd their king, anil taken arma 
 again (I his authority aiul commiifion lincc 
 that tune: but yet thtie is no more relcm- 
 bla;:ce between the authority ar..l p.reten- 
 fions or thefe governors or the nature and 
 Ov.vuliui,, of their dilputes, and the autho- 
 rity aiul pu-tenfion<i of' tiie v.iiV-.Is cf the 
 crown in ioiiM.r d.tys or the nature and 
 occaiions of their ciilputes with the prince 
 and v.iih one another, t.han there is between 
 tiie anticnt and the prcfent piers of J-r.nue. 
 Jn a vsortl, the conitituuon is lo altered, 
 that ar.) knowledge we can acquire about 
 ir, in the hill^ry tli.il p.rcxecies ti::;> |:ei:o'.l, 
 \:.ii lerve to l:;tle j u: j-o!e incur lUi.ly of 
 tiie hulorv tiia: K;iiu.'.., ::, a J tol-. Ispur- 
 p(;!e fl:ll in aii'.iiifi^ us to jud^e ct what: 
 jiufir; in the p;xle:u :.ge. '1 lie kimrs or 
 I" ranee (;..;e t!..i tnr.e, more n..'.;ler; at 
 hume, li.ive L^,. ..bie to txe;i :l.er/.lelvv<j 
 
 more
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 175 
 
 more abroad : and they began to do fo im- 
 mediately , tor CHARLES the eighth, fon 
 and fuccefibr of LEWIS the eleventh, form- 
 ed great defigns of foreign conquefts, tho 
 they were dilappointed by his inability, 
 by the levity of the nation, and by other 
 caules. LEWIS the twelfth and FRANCIS 
 the full, but efpecially FKANCI.S, meddled 
 deep in the affairs of Europe : and tho the 
 fuperior genius of FERDINAND called the 
 catholic, and the ftar of CHARLES the fifth 
 prevailed againit them, yet the efforts they 
 made mew fufficiently how the ftrength and 
 importance of this monarchy were increaf- 
 ed in their time. From whence we may 
 date likevvife the rivalfhip of the houfe of 
 France, for we may reckon that of Valois 
 and that of Bourbon as one upon this occa- 
 fion, and the houfc of Auftriai that con- 
 tinues at this day, and that has cod fo 
 much blood and fo much trealurc in the 
 courfe of it. 
 
 II. In
 
 X 7 6 LETTER VI. 
 II. In EN-GLAND, 
 
 TITO thr power nncl influence of the r,o- 
 bility lunk in the iii'e.r.. tiv.in/r rh.it brp.m 
 under Hr.s". v the levemh in F.te land, a> 
 they tiid in th .it wlm It Ivj'.tn uiv.l'T 1 -EWI-J 
 thr eleventh in FIMIK**; y.t t!:r r/".v ron- 
 ftltutions that theie cliantn-s pro.iiK. c:..i were 
 very tiilHTi'nr. In France the lortli alone 
 loll, tlie k.r.p; alone pained; tl'.e clergy 
 held their poifcflionr, nr/.i ri;tir imr^vniti^.v, 
 and the ; r iplc remained in .1 O^re ot mir: 
 gated llavery. Hut in Knj'i.'.m! t'v people 
 gained as \\r-l as t!ie cn;\vn. The (.om- 
 nions h. 1 .,! alrva-ly ;i ilv.rr in riie le-iflif.ire , 
 lo that thr power and ;r,!h:rr,ee or thr lorJb 
 btin^ broke by 1 1 r. :; u v t!:e levent!:, .uv.i 
 the property cf the commons incrcufinjj 
 by the lale i!:ar l.is l^n niaile or" r'lurch- 
 lanci -, tiie pr/.croi ;he laiu-r i.'iueaUu <>i 
 courle by th:> cliaiii.e in a conlhuition, tiie 
 form, whercol wca- l.;vor..:.: t> ti.em. 
 Tl.e um^M "f t lie roles p,ut an end to the 
 civil w.iis (.t Y;k and l.ancallcr, that hail 
 fuccccticii thole we (ommonlv call the b.:- 
 roni wars, a; A! t..e i.uinor or v. .irrinf;; in 
 
 France,
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 177 
 
 France, that had Jailed near four hundred 
 years under the Normans and Plantagenets, 
 tor plunder as well us conqueft was fpi-nt. 
 Our temple of JANTS was (hut by HJ-.NRY 
 
 the levciuh. v v c neither laid wti'e our 
 own nor other countries any longer: and 
 \vife laws atKl a wile government changed 
 infcnfibly the manners, and gave a new 
 turn to the fpint 01 our people. \Vc were 
 no longer the free-booters we had been. 
 Our nation maintained her reputation in 
 arms whenever the public intcreft or the 
 public authority required it > but war ceaf- 
 cd to be, what it had been, our principal 
 and almoft our fole proix-fiion. The arts 
 ot peace prevailed among us. We be- 
 came huibandmcn, manufacturers, and mer- 
 chants, and we emulated neighbouring na- 
 tions in literature. It is rroni this time 
 that we ought to ftudy the hiil'ory of our 
 country, my lord, with the utmoil appli- 
 cation. We are not much concerned to 
 know with critical accuracy what were the 
 ancient forms of our parliaments, concern- 
 ing which, however, there is little 100:11 
 for difpute from the reign of HEXRY the 
 third at Jeallj nor in fhort the whole fy- 
 item of our civil constitution before HHXRY 
 the ieventh, and of our ecclefialHcal con- 
 M itiiu-
 
 178 L E T T E R VI. 
 
 ftitution before HKNRV the eighth. Bur 
 he who lias not lludied and .icquircd a tho- 
 rough knowledge of them both, from thcfc 
 periods down to the j-ielcir time, in all 
 the variety of rvc;:.s by v.'hich they have 
 been afiecicd, will b- \cry unfit to judge 
 or to t.ike care of c;ih r. Juil as l:rtle 
 arc we concerned to k: ^w, in any nice 
 detail, what the condi ct of our princes, 
 relatively to their neirLb:;urs on the con- 
 tinent, was before th;s period, and at a 
 time when the partition of power and a 
 multitude of ether circumstances render- 
 ed the whole political fyltcm of Europe 
 fo vailly ililicrcnt from th.it which has 
 exiftcd lime. But he who has not traced 
 this conduct from the period we fix, down 
 to the prefent a^e, want 5 ; a principal part 
 of the knowledge that every EniiUh mini- 
 fter of (late fliould have. limonmce in 
 
 V* 
 
 the rt-fpc. c ts here fpoken of is the Ids par- 
 donable, becaule we have more, and mure 
 aurhcntic, means ol information concern 
 
 in- tliis, tl'.an c'T.rcrnm^ any >tluT pe- 
 rii'J. Anci..<>u> IT. .w to sjlut the curiofity 
 o: i' me p'TK-n-, ar.,1 to 1'iLnveall the i.ip- 
 t ' u - i a', n . (>: (>' .els, will never be furnith- 
 'ii I'v an, j <-r' (;;: '..' hiltory -, nor indceil 
 t .;-) :.' ( .!,, to the r.iturr and
 
 Of the Si UDV of HISTORY. 
 
 toui ie of human affairs : but he who is 
 content to re. id and obfjrve, like a fcnator 
 and a ilatelman, will find in our own and 
 in foreign hillorians as much information 
 as he wan:^, concerning t'ne a?T..irs of our 
 illand, iier fortune at home and her conduit 
 abroad, from the fifteenth century to the 
 eighteenth. 1 refer to foreign hiitorians, 
 as well as to our own, for this ferics of our 
 own hiftory , not only becaufe it is rea- 
 ibnable to fee in what manner the hiito- 
 rians of other countries have related the 
 tranfactions v. herein we have been concern- 
 ed, and what judgment they have made 
 of our conduct, doaieilic and foreign, but 
 for another reaibn likewife. Our nation 
 has furnifhed as ample and as important 
 matter, good and bad, for hillory, as 
 any nation under the km : and yet we mult 
 yield the palm in writing hiltory moil cer- 
 tainly to the Italians and to the French, 
 and, I fear, even to the Germans. The on- 
 ly two pieces of hillory we have, in any 
 rcfpe-t to be compared with the aruient, 
 are, the reign of HKNRY the ieventh by 
 my lord BACON', and the Hiltory of our 
 civil war in the lait century by your no- 
 ble ancdtor my lord . hniictllor CLAREX- 
 DON T . Bur we have no general hiftury to 
 Mi" b-
 
 j8a LETTER VI. 
 
 be compared with fome of uthcr countries : 
 neither h..ve wr, which 1 lament much 
 more, particular hiltories, except the two 
 I have mentioned, n^r writers ot memo- 
 rials, nor collectors ot monuments and a- 
 necdotc';, to vie in number or in merit 
 with thole tli.it foreign nations can bo.tll ; 
 from Co.MMiNrs, (jriccM*' MX, l)r Hti.- 
 LAV, PAOLO, DAVII.A, 'I IMAM >, and a 
 multitude or otliers, i!o\vn through t!-.c 
 whole period that I proj oJc to yojr lord 
 fhip. But .iltho tliis be mi'-, to our fhamc ; 
 yet it is true likewilc th.it \vc want r/> 
 ncceflary means or information. They lie 
 open to our indutlry and tur d:f eminent. 
 Foreign writers a;c lor the moll part. Ic.ircc 
 worth reatlin;^ wlun they jpca!-: <jf on; iio- 
 nv/flic arr'.iirs : nur are our Kngl:lh. writci^ 
 for the nioll part of Drearer value \vlien i'.\'V 
 Ipeak ot torei^n affairs. In tlii> ir.ut 1 .:; 1 .! 
 ilcfect, the writers cf other countrii s n;i-, I 
 thif.k, n:')re e\', ul.tbl'- ti'.an ours: lor die- 
 nature of our [:overnmcr.t, the p"JUK.il 
 principles in w!\ich \ve are bred, ov.r di- 
 itinCt intereil> as iil.indrrs, and the co:n- 
 plic.itc 1 vari';U'- intertlls an.! Imn.urs <>l .-ur 
 painc- ! >, all th--!e .".re i'> peculiar to our 
 tt-K-v, . i: io iir'r;c;-.t ii'-m the n(>::(.<:>, 
 ' - 'o:,-, tii.ji 
 
 it
 
 Of tf\e STUDY of HISTORY. 181 
 
 it is not wonderful they fliould be puzzled 
 or Ihould tall into error, when they under- 
 take to ;ive relations of events that reftilc 
 
 _ 
 
 from ail theie, or to pals any judgment up- 
 on them. But as thelc hiftorians are mu- 
 tually defective, fo they mutually iupply 
 each other's defeats. We muft compare 
 them therefore, make ule of our dilcern- 
 ment, and draw our conclufions from both. 
 If we proceed in this manner, we have an 
 ample fund of hiftory in our power, from 
 whence to collect iufRcicnt authentic infor- 
 mation ; and we mult proceed in this man- 
 ner, even with our own hiilorians of differ- 
 ent religions, fects, and parties, or run the 
 rifque or being milled by domelhc igno- 
 rance and prejudice in tins caie, as well as 
 by foreign ignorance and prejudice in the 
 other. 
 
 M 2 III. In
 
 L F r T F R Vt. 
 
 III. In SPAIN and the Fmpirc. 
 
 SPAIN fignrrd little in Furopc till the lat- 
 ter part of the fifteenth century , till Callile 
 and .-\rr.i?on were united by the marriage 
 of FERDINAND and ISAB; I.LA ; till the to- 
 tal cxpiillion or the Moors, and till the clif- 
 covery of the \Ytft-Indies. After this not 
 only Spain t 'oi; ;. new form, and grc.v m:o 
 immenle power-, hut, the heir or FJ:UIM- 
 NAND and ls,\P;i.i. \ K-inp heir like \viie of 
 the houles or Bui gundy and Aultria, Inch 
 an extent or iloir.ini >n accrued to him by 
 2!! thelc li;: ccllioi.% ;.nd ill; h an addition 
 of rank and uuthomy by Jus election to the 
 empire, a 5 ; no j.n:.u- had been mailer of in 
 Europe irom ti'.e li.ivs oi CuAni.r.s t!tc 
 rrea:. I: is pn-j^-r to obierv<- here how 
 the policy (.f the deimar.s altered IM the 
 ( lioiv e ot an enijt :(>r, b-cais!-.- the effects 
 gt" this \\'hen 
 
 ]' )' > 'M.F'ii 1 .' , <;i 1 !..; fin;:!' v. a.cl.uie ;;: '!.e 
 \r.:r one t!i.u:l.ind twtj hundred and itven- 
 t'.', f;r ubouc ti::\t I;.T'-, t ; .-- poverty and 
 t:,.- i./.v eliatr of this pi in , v, :/> \\.\-\ been 
 nianh. 1 of t!ie Ci.'.ir: t'' a k:n;', ';f B';!-.;-:r.:a, 
 was an indii'.'e.'r.ent ( tie.! ! '1
 
 Of the S ruDY of HISTORY. 183 
 
 orderly anil hi w Ids flate of the empire 
 made the princes or it in thofe days unwil- 
 ling to have a more powerful head. But a 
 contrary maxim took place at this aera : 
 CHAiu.ts tin- iii'tli and FRANCIS the firft, 
 the two moil powerful princes of Europe, 
 were the Iblc candkirues ; tor the elector 
 ot Saxony, who is laid to have declined, 
 was rather unable to (land in competition 
 with them: and CHAJILLS was cholen by 
 the unanimous lulFiv.gfs of the electoral col- 
 lege if 1 mntuke nor. Another CHARLES, 
 CHARLES the fourth, who was made em- 
 peror illegally enough on the depofition of 
 JLtwis ot Bavaria, and about one hundred 
 and titty years before, K-ems to me to have 
 contributed doubly ro cftablifh this max- 
 im ; by the wife conftitutions that he pro- 
 cured to pafs, that united the empire in a 
 more orderly form and better fyitem of go- 
 vernment ; and by alienating t.'ie imperial 
 revenues to fuch a degree, that they were 
 no longer lufFicicn: to lupport an emperor 
 who h.id n^t great revenues of his own. 
 The lame maxim and other drcumftances 
 have concurred to keep the empire in this 
 family ever fince, as ic had been often be- 
 fore i and this family having large domini- 
 ons in the empire, and larger prerenfions, as 
 M 4 v.vil
 
 7S 4 LETT r R VI. 
 
 veil 35 dominion.-, out r,f i:, the other ftatcs 
 
 or Ei.p-'i'c, l-'raiKe, Sr-ain -nd Kn^land par- 
 
 *""* I 
 
 ticularlv, h.'.vr been more concerned lir.ce 
 this period in the afiaiis oi Germany, than 
 they were before it: and by cor.fcquencc the 
 hitlory of Germany, from the bvprning of 
 the fixLecmh century, is of i,v,p j: ranee, 
 and a ncccff.sry pa r t of that knowledge 
 which your lordfhip defires to acquiiv. 
 
 THE Dutch commonwealth was net ior- 
 med till near a century later. J'ut as loon as 
 i: was formed, nay even \\hillt ii wa>torm- 
 inp, thefc ; ri;v:r:,es t!;at \veie l-.'it to obier- 
 vation amoih; tne ;r,ar.y th.it cumpoied th.e 
 d(iminions ut 15'ji^undy a;ul Aultria, be- 
 ta :ve fo confiderabie apart of thepolitic.il 
 ]y.' '".I of I ; .urope, tint their hiii. >ry n, .lb 
 i '.'. .:..: i by everv u.an NN ho \suuld n.;oi;n 
 h:r. i-'i; oi i.'us 1\ Hem. 
 
 Ct'ier^ of .t n.-'re ar.nc; . (j!i. f :n..i b;'j^..n to 
 
 :r.:r.;'lr !M ti:f! < li'Utcs ai<vl w.,i ;, tlioJc 
 
 ::.c.:!s ::. c i\ :^:/;:: , :: 1 inane-, th.tt 
 
 a:e :.< I),- ti.c pi,:r, ;;.:! oh:;x: r , <T" your lord- 
 
 .'j p!:c..t:u;i :;i t!::- !!:; :v or !.:ilo- 
 
 r/. J h.ti l the r.fMi..Tn (.M-AHS ililerves 
 
 ' '-r-.'ii
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 185 
 
 Till the election of FREDERIC the firft to 
 the crown of Denmark, and till that won- 
 derful revolution which the Hrlb GUSTA- 
 vus brought about in Sweden, it is nothing 
 more than a confided rhapfody of events, 
 in which the great kingdoms and ftates of 
 Europe neither had any concern, nor took 
 any part. From the time I have mention- 
 ed, the northern crowns have turned their 
 counfels and their arms often fouthwards, 
 and Sweden particularly, with prodigious 
 effeft. 
 
 To what purpofe fhoi.ld T trouble your 
 lordfhip with the mention of hiitories of 
 other nations ? they are either fuch as have 
 no relation to the knowledge you would 
 acquire, like that of the Poles, the Mufco- 
 vi:cs, or the Turks , or they are fuch as, 
 having an occafional or a fecondary rela- 
 tion to it, tall of courle into jour icheme ; 
 like the hiftory of Irr.lv for initnnce, which. 
 is 1'MVK-times a part of that of France, 
 IbtvytkiTK-s of that of Spain, and iometimts 
 of that of" Germany. The thread of hifto- 
 ry, that you are to keep, is that of the na- 
 tions who are and mull always be concern- 
 ed in the lame Iccrnes of action with your 
 own. Thcle are the principal nations of
 
 i86 L K T T E R VI. 
 
 the weft. Tiu^'/i that h.wc no immediate 
 relation to your own country, or to them, 
 arc either too remote, or too minute, to cm- 
 ploy much ot" your time : and their hiflory 
 and your own is, for all your purpofcs, 
 the whole hillury ot I'.urope. 
 
 THL two prcat powers, thai of France 
 and tli.it or Aulhia, Ivin^ lorried, and a 
 nvalfhip ellablilhed b 1 coi.lc-quence be- 
 tween them ; it bciMi) to br i!>r mured or 
 their liei^hb./Jrs ID o; p-! r i'i. liion^eil ar.J. 
 moll cnterj iiliii;. r ot tlie f.v<, .UK! to be 
 (lie ally and ineikl oi the we.ik.eit. 1-iom 
 hence aiolc the notion 01 .'. b.iiancc ot 
 p.Aver ; n ]-u;(:[->e, (j.". the . i,',;..l j,o:-/<- of 
 wiiu'h ti.c !.,;. :y .iiui tr.u.|iiih' y <-t all 
 iiujll i!i [ .L-.^!. '!> i.lv!ipy i!,e (.ju.tlity of 
 ii.:, bals'icc li.-.s I (.> th<- .!.> oi eacli oi' 
 fhcie riv.il, :a !,... turn: ,uui to hnui'T jt 
 Jiorrt b' i.' :ir<.-vi \ i 1 '. jj;ever.tin2; too 
 
 FM.c.i j >.'..r ir;^!M i.:li::j.^ 1'i'o one k'.ilc, 
 hi. [:C:T. t.'> } ;.:; .| !c <>I -id tiie v.ilc coun- 
 i.i> (, J i :;', rcl.aue to 1'i.rRe ai/.l 
 t" ?'.- (-1 .\'i!::!, li.rou<.'h liie whci!'; 
 
 j :::-j,: :': ..: iKi:.:n ai u.' .:era we ii.ive l;x- 
 u:, ur.^. i., units ^: t;.; !:;,ur. 1 o nuke a 
 v^rtl'.;: .,;.v ; . j;''i ohl^rvation, thejelore, o; 
 i.,: M'.C .1:^1 v.^, l.r.e c.1 tlie'.e po'.vti;, :n (lie 
 
 two
 
 Of the STUD v of HISTORY. 187 
 
 two latt centuries and in the prclent ; of 
 the projects which tlicir ambition formed j 
 of the means they employed to carry thefc 
 projects on with iuccefs -, of the means em- 
 ployed by otiiers to defeat them ; of the i 
 Jiie of all thefc endeavours in war and in 
 negotiation ; and particularly, to bring your 
 observations home to your own country 
 and your own ufe, of the conduct that 
 England held, to her honor or di (honor, to 
 her advantge or difaclvantge, in every 
 one of the numerous and important con- 
 junctures that happened ought to be the 
 principal lubjoct of your Icrdlhip's atten- 
 tion in read in?.: and reflecting on this part 
 of modern hiitory. 
 
 Now to this purpofe you will find it of 
 great ufe, my lord, when you have a gene- 
 ral plan of the hiftory in your mind, to go 
 over the \vhole again in another method ; 
 which I i:ropoio to be this. Divide the 
 entire peiiod into kith particular periods 
 as the rjncral courier of afrairs will mark 
 
 - 
 
 out to you lufficiently, by the rile of new 
 conjunctures, of different Idiemes of con- 
 duct, and or dirl-jrent theatres of action. Exa- 
 mine this period of hiitory as you would 
 
 examine
 
 iS8 I E T T T R VI. 
 
 examine a tragedy or a comedy ; that i% 
 take full the idea or a t^-ncral notion or the 
 whole, and alter that ex inline every art 
 and every Iccne apait. Co.uidcr them in 
 thcmiclvcs, and coniidcr them relatively 
 to one another. Read tins hutjry as you 
 would thn: or any aniicnt period ; but itu- 
 tiy it afterwards, as it would not be wonh 
 your while to lludy the ether ; nay as you 
 could not have in your power the means 
 or llud.-inL! the other, it the iludy was real- 
 ly worth yuiir while. The tor;ner j art 01 
 tins period ab ,ur,.!, in areat lullojians : ai^d 
 the U:ter part is lo modern, that even tra- 
 dition is authentic e:i-)U',h to lupply the 
 w.r.i or :' -od !::il jry, '1 we .;re curious to 
 tv'.cju.ie, ..;,.: :r \ve. I.e.-.! kc-;i to ti.e i.vinj, 
 wnh tl'.e i.'.:\.'j i.r.;v.r:..ii.t v ;md tn.(\io;n <1 
 iud.;iiie;it :o \.f u^d tjie (i:\ui: ,'.!id he tl/it 
 liiA-s or.e v...l 1) r':e (/.h-.-r. The wh )lc 
 period ;ii)' >]'.. Is i.i r.i.rnv, rials, in coluai- 
 on > or |"..b!..' .ul. ..r,A n. ):;i::i:er.M 01 pi:- 
 va:c l.-tu-i , .;:id 1. 1 treaii.'s. All liu-fc mu<l" 
 i:o:ne u;:j y*/.. r pla:i or lh. iv, :r.y lord : 
 nunv n.-t to be re ! t/uour^h, btu all to be 
 Loniultrd ar\! c OT.- .".re.!. I iiey mull not 
 k.ic: \ou, 1 th;:ik, to your enquiries, bur. 
 vour cnqi.;r:rs mull Itail vou to them. 1'y 
 ro.nint: h.ilo: \ ,I.K! t!;.i: \\!.;cii we tail the
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 189 
 
 matcria hiilorica together in this manner, 
 and by drawing your information from 
 both, your lordmip will acquire not only 
 that knowledge, which many have in fotnc 
 degree, of the great tranfac'tions that have 
 palled, and the great events that have hap- 
 pened in K n rope during this period, and 
 of their immediate and obvious ( aulcs and 
 conlequcnces , but your lordfhip will ac- 
 quire a much luperior kno\vledge, and 
 luch a one as very few men pofiels almoft 
 in any degree, a knowledge of the true 
 political fyltem of Europe during this time. 
 You will fee it in it's primitive principles, 
 in the conllitutions of governments, the fi- 
 tuauons of countries, their national and true 
 interelts, the characters and the religion of 
 people, and other permanent circumltanccs. 
 You will trace it through all iis fluctuations, 
 and obferve how the objects vary feldom, 
 but the means perpetually, according to 
 the different characters of princes and of 
 thole who govern , the dial- rent abilities of 
 thole who fcrve , the courier of' accidents, 
 and a multitude of o:l:er irregular and 
 
 Tiir particular periods into which the 
 whole period mould be divided, in my 
 
 opinion,
 
 i go LETTER VI. 
 
 opinion, arc thele. i. From the fifteenth to 
 
 the end of the fifteenth century. 2. From 
 thence to the iVrer.e.m treaty, j. From 
 thence down to the preient ti:i,e. 
 
 lordfhip will find this divifion as 
 apt and as proper, relatively to the parti- 
 cular hitioru-b t.i Kngland, France, Spain, 
 und Germany, the principal na;i >n , con- 
 crnn-d, as it ;> rvL'.ivcly to the ^cr.-.Tai hi- 
 itory t'i 1 ur]^e. 
 
 THE death of queen ELIZABETH, and the 
 
 accdli-m (A kinti; JAMES the hrit, made a 
 vail alteration in the government of our 
 n.aion ar tuv. , ;>nd in her conduct abroad, 
 p.: 1 " .ut [h c en i ',t :!,e iinl of' ihelc periods. 
 '1 hr xvavs th.il rcl^Mon >cc.:i;'.)neJ, .aui an-,- 
 lv.'.j<;n i< nivntr.i in France, tnrtni'ih the 
 ics^n (.'t FXANCIS t!ie ice'uv.i, CHAI'LI- 
 tiie iKiith, 1I;NK\ t!ie 1'iirii, and a part or 
 lli'N..vtr.e 1 jurtii, eiuU . : a:ul ir.e luric 1 . 
 c: tir.- le.;:^ue \vcie i ;-;:!i 1 ed tn ti.is {/real 
 i:ince, about the la;iv.- u.rir. l'ii:i.ii- ihe 
 lecond Ot Spain ni;'.ri.?> :;.!i periuii hi.ewilc 
 by h:\ i--.-.i!), and by the cxh.:i:;Ud condi- 
 tion ::; v.:.;rh I'.'- It It t:ie ni(ir...rc!.y he <;o- 
 ver.-.cvi : v. li.ih t. i. the lc.:d no ioni'.T :n 
 clilluibin the 'cace o! mankind, but acted
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 191 
 
 a feccmd part in abetting the bigotry and 
 ambition of FERDINAND the fecond and the 
 third. The thirty years war that dcvafted 
 Germany did not begin till the eighteenth 
 year of the leventeenth century, but the 
 leeds of it were lowing lome time before, 
 and even at the end of the lixteenth. .FER- 
 DINAND the firft and MAXIMILIAN had 
 (hewn much lenity and moderation in the 
 difputes and troubles that arole on account 
 of religion. Under RODOLPHUS and MAT- 
 THIAS, as the iucccllion of their coufin FER- 
 DINAND approached, the fires that were co- 
 vered began to fmoke and to fparkle : and 
 if the war did not be^in with this century, 
 the preparation ior it, and the expectation 
 of it did. 
 
 THE fecond period ends in one thoufand 
 fix hundred and iixty, the year of the rello- 
 ration of CHARLES the fecond to the throne 
 of England i when our civil wars, and all 
 the diibrders which CROMWELL'S ufurpa- 
 tion had produced, were over , and there- 
 fore a remarkable point of time, with re- 
 Ipeft to our country. It is no lefs remark- 
 able with refpect to Germany, Spain, and 
 France. 
 
 A
 
 192 L K T T 1- R VI. 
 
 As to Germany ; the ambitious project 
 of the German branch or' Austria had been 
 entirely defeated, tlu- peace of the empire 
 h:ul b.en reilored, a.,d ai'n<lt a new eon- 
 Ititution funned, <>r an "Li one revived, 
 by the treaties u \Yellphalu ; nay the im- 
 perial eagle was n:;t only fallen, but her 
 \vin r -s wci'c clipped. 
 
 O ft I 
 
 As to Spain ; the SpaniHi branch was 
 fallen as low tv.xivj years afterward^, that 
 is, in the year one thcuiand iix hundred and 
 iixty. I'H :!.!! the lecor.d left liis lucccllbrfi 
 a ruined nion;:!\ !i\ . He \'. tt ilu'iii ioiiu-- 
 th;r ( g wurici h'..- icj' t'-fjr. his example and 
 his pn;v;pL:> i,r i; )ViTr.:nent, ioimded in 
 ambition, in p;;,:c, ;;i i^:;.);'ar,^e, in b:^;o- 
 try, and all the jedantry or ilate. 1 have: 
 red lonvjwhcrc or u:ii--r, that th<- v.-i- ot 
 the I.T.V Cci::i:ries alone o:fi ii::i\ by 
 his o\s;. i 'til. ;< lii'>:i, Ir.e jiiij.dud arivl l;x:y- 
 iuur n,.!i!')ii>, a p:o,:;-. n-, it.m in uh.it 
 jjxcie.. lofVi-r 1.': i "i k i :iv;i. i'u i n* ti.e 
 ti.iid arid I'h'ir.n- the ru:r:h iulhn-.ed li:> 
 cxamjie a/.-i h^ pr.:u ij 1; s <>1 -/jvn nment, 
 at h.;,r a;..i abu;..,i. .i; !, ;rr.e, ti.etevas 
 iiHJc!i i'-nr-, but n : ; .;. -\ :.!er, r.o uvo;,<>- 
 iny, :i y; wi. '. r.i o; j oiu\ in the Il.'.ie. '] !,c 
 
 (...inv.ii
 
 Of the S r u D v of H i s T o R v . 193 
 
 church conrinued to devour the (late, and 
 that monlter the inquifuion to difpeople 
 the country, even more than perpetual war, 
 and .'.11 the numerous colonies that Spain 
 had lent to the. Well Indies : for your lord- 
 Ihip \vill Hnd that PHIMP the third drove 
 more than nine liu . lie I tho.if.md Mori- 
 coes out of his dominions by one cuicl, 
 with fuch circumitances uf inhumanity in 
 the execution or it, as Spaniards alone 
 could exercife, and that tribunal who had 
 provoked this unhappy race to revolt, could 
 alone approve. Abroad, the condudl of 
 thele princes was dire feed by the fame wild 
 i'pirit of ambition : ralh in undertaking tlio 
 llo\v to execute, and obflinate in purfuing 
 tho unable to fucceed, they opened a ne\v 
 fluicc to let out the little lite and vigor 
 that remained in their monarchy. PHILIP 
 the fecond is laid to have been piqued a- 
 gainll his uncle FERDINAND, for refufing 
 to yield the empire to him on the abdica- 
 tion of CHARLES the fifth. Certain ii is, 
 that as much as he loved to diilurb the 
 peace of mankind, and to meddie in every 
 quarrel that had the appearance of fnp- 
 porting the Roman and opprefTing every 
 other church, he meddled little in the affairs 
 of Germany. But, FERDINAND and MAXI- 
 N .iaiAN
 
 194 LETT K R VI. 
 MU.MV dead, and the oft'-ipring ot 
 .viLi.-t\ extinct, the kings ot Spain efpoul- 
 cd t!;c inrcrcils of the other branch of their 
 family, entertained remote views or" ambi- 
 tion in favor of their own branch, even 
 on that fide, ami made all the cnterprilcs 
 of FFKIIVAND of Gratz, both before and 
 iifter hib elevation to the empire, the com- 
 r,,c;n f.u;!e of the hoi'le of Auflri. 1 .. What 
 coirple.ited their ruin was this : they knew 
 i.t.'t how to loie, nor when to yield. They 
 acknowledged the independency 6f the 
 IHitrh commonwealth, and became the al- 
 lies of their nntient {objects at the treaty ot 
 Mur.fler: but they would not forego tlieir 
 ufurTveii cl.tim on Portugal, and they periiiled 
 to c.irry on fm[ r ly the war againll France. 
 1 !ius tiiey were reduced to luch a lownefs 
 (,; \ v'.ver as can hardly be paralleled in 
 any <.:'.}(. r cafe: anil Pnn.i}' the fourth was 
 obliged at Lll to conclude a peace, or\ 
 ter:r.-, rcpiiLrn.int to l::s inclination, to th;u 
 <;i hi, J-CDJ I/, io tlie ir.terell o\ Spain, and 
 ;-j :I;:i:ol p all Lurope, in the i'jrciican treaty. 
 
 A to I'r.'.p.ce; tliis ;if-ra 01 the cnti;'.- 
 
 f.'.il "i ['::' |\,;;:ih power is likewifc thic 
 
 f:->,::\ \V!IK! we n,..y reckon tiat i' ranee 
 
 :jv, ,i> formiJalile, Ui we have lecn her, to 
 
 her
 
 Of the STUDY of HISTORY. 195 
 
 her neighbours, in power and pretenfions. 
 HKNRV the fourth meditated great defigns, 
 and prepared to act a great part in Europe 
 in the very beginning ot this period, when 
 RAVAILLAC (tabbed him. Mis defigns died 
 with him, and are rather gueffed at tha.'i 
 known ; tor furely thole which his hiftorian 
 PKREFIXE and the compilers of SUI.LY'S 
 memorials aferibc to him, of a chriitian 
 commonwealth, divided into fifteen dates, 
 and of a lenate to decide all differences, 
 and to maintain this new conftitution of 
 Europe, are too chimerical to have been 
 really his : but his general defign of abafing 
 the houfe of Auftria, and ellabliming the 
 fuperior power in that of Bourbon, was 
 taken up, about twenty years after his death, 
 by RICHELIEU, and was purfued by him 
 and by MAZARIN with lo much ability and 
 fucccls, that it was effected entirely by the 
 treaties of Weftphalia and bv the Pyrenean 
 treaty : that is, at the end of the fecond of 
 thole periods I have p relumed to propoib 
 to your lordlhip. 
 
 WHEN' the third, in which we now are, 
 
 will end, and what circumitances will mark 
 
 the end of it, I know not : but this I know, 
 
 that the great events and revolutions, which 
 
 N 2 h;:ve
 
 j 9 6 LETTER VI. 
 
 have happened in the courfe of ir, inter- 
 eft us ftill more nearly than thofc of the 
 two precedent periods. I intended to have 
 drawn up an elcnchus or luminary of the 
 three, but I doubted, on further reflection, 
 whether my memory would enable me to 
 do it with exaclneis enough : and I law 
 that, it I was able to do it, the deduction 
 would be immeafurably lon^. Something 
 of this kind however i: may l->e realonable to 
 attcmpr, in fpeaking of the lalt period : 
 which may hereafter occafion a further 
 trouble to your lorciihip. 
 
 BTT to give you lomc breathing-time, 
 I will poflponc it at prelcm, and am in 
 the mean \vhik-, 
 
 My Lo R r>, 
 
 Your, 
 
 I. 1. T-
 
 ( '97 ) 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 A (ketch of the flate and hiftory of 
 Furope from the Pyrcnean treaty in 
 one thoufand fix hundred and fifty 
 nine, to the year one thoufand fix hun- 
 dred and eighty eight. 
 
 TH E firft .obfervation I (hall make 
 on this third period of modern 
 hiftory is, that as the ambition of 
 CHARLES the fifth, who united the whole 
 formidable power ot Auitria in himfelf, 
 and the reillefs temper, the cruelty, 
 and bigotry of PHILIP the fccond, were 
 principally objects of the attention and fo- 
 licitude of the councils of Europe, in 
 the firll ot thefe periods ; and as the 
 ambition of FERDINAND the fecond, and 
 the third, who aimed at nothing lefs 
 N 3 than
 
 190 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 than cxrirpatinp; the protcftant intereft, 
 and under that pretence fubduing the 
 liberties of Germany, were objects of the 
 Jamc kint! in the Iccond : fo an oppofi- 
 tion to the rov. ing power of France, or 
 to fpe.:k ni'jre properly, to the exorbitant 
 ambition of the hou'e of Bourbon, has been 
 the priru :;;al affair ot Kurope, during 
 il.e c;;catclt part 01 the prelent period. The 
 ilni^n or i'.fpiri.ig to univcrlal monarchy 
 v.as iiypi.'tcd to CHARLES the fiftli, a^ 
 Icon as l;c be^an to give proofs of his am- 
 Liiion arid c;.|-ac;ty. The iarr.e ciefi^n was 
 imputed, to l.:wis the fourteenth, as loon 
 a.-> i-.e bf'r.ri t" feel his o\vn llrcngth, and 
 the v.e.d.r.el^ ot his r.e:L;!ibours. Neither or 
 ihe.r j'.iinccs w., ii.duced, I believe, by 
 
 tie r"i;it:uv 
 hcnl:c;.s of 
 
 of h's couitie;->, or the appre- 
 h.;s :i vrrl.iiies, to entert.:*n lu 
 
 ti in.cric.,1 
 
 .: d'- . n ..s ti:..^ \\ould have 
 
 1 v { ii. cv. a 
 
 in tl.a: t.iile JCT!V- v. !;ere',n the 
 
 v, ( ; c ' \ i , H e I 
 
 1 :1 is lo < i:< n vr.Jeritood : .jui 
 
 I n isl. !-.- v 
 
 :-ry much ;! either oi i!.c;n wa.s 
 
 o! a i 1 ar..L 
 
 ier, or in tircomfiaiKes, to 
 
 i;r .!er;..:i| : 
 
 H' :ii of tiieii) ii.ici llror-; 
 
 i! ...\% ;; i 
 
 :! v:r f:'.:r.ii;e'. !.:;-i;er, and 
 
 10 l-XJ.ful 
 
 i..< .: iiominions t.i::her ; bi;! 
 
 rv .ii i r <i ; 
 
 n. h..ii tit. 1 .: i;)L. ..r.v'. ;::i\ en-
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 199 
 
 and an hero. Thcfc apprchcnfions however 
 were given wifely, and taken ufefully. 
 They cannot be given nor taken too foort 
 when fuch powers as rhefe arife , becaufe 
 when luch powers as thefe are befiegrd as 
 it were early, by the common policy and 
 \vatchfulnefs of their neighbours, each of 
 them may in his turn of ftrength ially 
 forth, and gain a little ground ; but none 
 of them will be able to pufh their con- 
 quells far, and much lefs to confummate 
 the in tire projects of their ambition. Be- 
 fkles the occalional oppofuion that was 
 given to CHAKLES the fifth by our 
 HENRY the eighth, according to the dif- 
 ferent moods or humor he was in-, by the 
 popes, according to the feveral turns of 
 their private intereft ; and by the princes 
 of Germany according to the occafions 
 or pretences that religion or civil liberty 
 furnimcd, he had from his iirtt fetting 
 out a rival and an enemy in FRANCIS the 
 firil, who did not maintain his caufe " in 
 " forma pauperis," if I may ufc 1'uch an 
 expreffion : as we have feen the houfe of 
 Auftria fue, in our days, for dominion at 
 the gate of every palace in Europe. 
 FRANCIS the firft was the principal in his 
 own ijuarrels, paid his own armies, foupht 
 N 4 Tils
 
 200 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let./. 
 
 his own battles -, and tho his valour alone 
 did not hinder CHARLES the fifth from 
 Jubduin^ all Europe, as BAYLE, a better 
 philolo{:er tlian politician, iomewhere af- 
 fcris, but a multitude of other circumilan- 
 ccs eafily to be traced in hiilury ; yet he 
 contributed by hi. victories, and even by 
 his defeats, to wade the itrcngth and 
 check '.he courier of that nrowing power. 
 LEWIS the fourteenth had no rival of this 
 kind in the houle of Auflria, nor indeed 
 any enemy of t;iis importance to combat, 
 till the prince of Orange became king of 
 Great Britain : and he had great advan- 
 tages in nuny other rclpect, which it is 
 necefiary to confidcr in order to make a 
 true judgment on the affairs of Murope 
 fVo:n tb.'.- year one thoufand fix liundred 
 en ..I f;xtv. You will discover the firft 
 or thiA: ;; ivai.*. r,cs, ;:nd fuch as were 
 r.nluc'.lvf df ail ['H' rclt, in t.'ie conduct 
 
 MKV I';r:i;cd t ; .r .-, rc.it (.'efign, and laid 
 t!:e fu'j;K;;ilior.5> : MA/XRIN purliud the 
 (!';:. ;n, and railed the fuj.>erftruclure. It 
 I c.o r.'A deceive myfelf cxtren:ely, there 
 at'- fr-.v i ..If-irvs \:\ h::h,ry that tielervc 
 y ur i'>;..;piij>' a:te;it:on ;i n;c than thr 
 C'';i'!'.' ' r .!i-i i'i<.' jii'll ar. I preatell or the fie 
 
 mimiters
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 201 
 
 minilters held, in laying the foundations 
 I fpeak of. You will obfcrvc how he 
 helped co embroil affairs on every fide, 
 and to keep the houfe of Auftria at bay as 
 it were , how he entered into the quarrels 
 of Italy againft Spain, into that concern- 
 ing the Valtelinc, and that concerning the 
 luccefiion of Mantua ; without engaging 
 Ib deep as to divert him from another great 
 objedl of his policy, fubuuing Rochelle 
 and difarming the Huguenots. You will 
 obferve how he turned himlelf, after this 
 was done, to llop the progrefs of FERDI- 
 NAND in Germany. Whiltr, Spain fomented 
 difcontents at the court and diibrders in 
 the kingdom of France, by all poffible 
 means, even by taking engagements witli 
 the duke of ROHAN, and for iuppoiting the 
 protcltants -, RICHELIEU abetted the lame 
 intereit in Germany againit FKRDINANDJ 
 and in the Low Countries ag:i:::ft Spain. 
 The em[v;\)r uv.s become almclc the ma- 
 Irer in Germany. CHRISTIAN the fourth, 
 king of Denmark, had been at the head 
 of a league, wherein the United Provin- 
 ces, Sweden, and Lower Saxony entered, 
 to oppoie his progrefs: but CHRISTIAN 
 had been defeated by TILLY and VAL- 
 Si'ii:;, and obliged to conclude a treaty 
 
 at
 
 IM...UT 
 
 02 A Sketch of the HISICKY Let. 7. 
 
 at Lubcc, where I-'UKIMXAND gave him 
 the law. It was then that GUSTAVUS 
 ADOLPIU s w <th whom KICHKLILU made 
 an alhar.cr, entered into this war, and 
 J.,on turned the fortune of it. The 
 1 , ;-IK'!I n.smltcr had not yet engaged his 
 ! .y in the war; but when the 
 , ;;rp.tic.nt, and threatned to 
 iru^c ^iih Spain, unlcls 
 -.Tv-J i when the kingot'Swr.- 
 ik\i, ur.d the battle ct" Nord- 
 ; when Saxony had turned 
 the cniperor, and 
 many others had 
 that MilTc alir.ofl 
 Lie Swcdiili alii. met : 
 en^agetl liis ir.afur, 
 cumilance wl.uh 
 to en<j,.'.^e him 
 I-'or, full, lie h.u! a 
 ami; io latv : 
 
 jvr.ew I 
 F..ince i 
 i'iN \v.x; 
 
 2t:a;.i t 
 
 . :..c Iu:e ot 
 
 L.'.iulcn 1 
 
 >ur ; : ::r.,l lo 
 
 J'tl lOWcd 
 
 ti.;>- e x.i m pie 
 
 alone ps. 
 th-.:i K: 
 
 i.ni'.d in LJ' 
 L li I.LI EU c; 
 
 u:ui pu.; 
 
 :;ed ui every 
 
 t:.e co;,: 
 
 ,,:,:t^:e affwix 
 
 v. ; . 
 
 t .-. 4 .:.; -e. I'O 
 
 cxiu;i!lctl 
 
 y:cK!;na to the 
 
 c!(AU>i" .:.i.-tv.a|/e by en^ag 
 
 tiiut or i ,:..::- i:\-:h into t 
 .iiied and almoli 
 il. it 
 
 ,i, Jneiui 1 ;, wlio, pulled LV,- 
 -.s .;i'..l bv t!ie want tl:( ) h.ul 
 ive tins iniuiiler ,ui opi" *:.! 
 ' tivlc claims and ell. ID;. ::;.:^ 
 : ,;, , in ait l)Ls treaties \v:::i 
 
 J lol-
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 
 
 Holland, Sweden, and the princes and 
 Jtates of the empire, on which he had 
 projected the future aggrandiiement of" 
 prance. The manner in which he enga- 
 ged, and the air that he gave to his en- 
 gagement, were advantages of the fe- 
 cond fort, advantages of reputation and 
 credit-, yet were tncfe of no fmall mo- 
 ment in the courfe of the war, and ope- 
 rated ftrongly in favor of France as he 
 defigncd they fhould, even after his 
 death, and at and after the treaties of 
 \Veftphalia. He varnimed ambition 
 with the mod plaufible and popular pre- 
 tences. The elector of TREVES had put 
 himfelf under the protection of France : 
 and, if I remember right, he made this 
 ilcp when the emperor could not protect 
 him againft the Swedes, whom lie had 
 reafon to apprehend. No matter, the 
 governor of Luxemburg was ordered to 
 lurprife Treves and to leize the elector. 
 He executed his orders with fuccels, and 
 carried this prince prifoner into Brabant. 
 RICHELIEU fcized the lucky circum- 
 ilance j he reclaimed the elector : and 
 on the refufal of the cardinal infant, the 
 war was declared. France, you fee, ap- 
 .peared the common friend of liberty, 
 
 the
 
 204 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let.-?. 
 
 the defender of ir in the Low Countries 
 againlt the king of STAIN, and in Grr- 
 m;:ny ::gahft the emperor, as well as the 
 protestor ot" the princes of the empire, 
 many ot whole eltares hr.d been illegally 
 invaded, and whofc perfons were no long- 
 rr fafc from violence even in their own 
 palaces. All thefe appearances were 
 kept up in the negociations at Minuter, 
 v here M A /. A K i N reaped what K i r u L- 
 i. ILL' had lowed. The demands that 
 1-rance made for herfclf were very great -, 
 but the conjuncture was favorable, and 
 fhe improved it to the utmoit. No 
 figure could be more flattering than 
 hcr\ at the head of thefe negociarions ; 
 nor more mortifying than the emperor's 
 throuph lie whole courf" of the treaty. 
 Thr princes and (tates or the empire had 
 hern treared as vafials by the tinperor: 
 1- ranee (irtcr:T'.i".Ci! them to treat with 
 him MI thU (>cc. .!:.}} as loverc'ians and 
 Irpprvtcd th^in in tliis determination. 
 ^^'^,;!!t Sweden l''ernr;i conccrn'-d for thv 
 { if.'t (r.i!-,: iiKeieit aione, ar.d ihewed no 
 '/fuT ir.-.rd, .'.% fhe l;.ui r.o c :!XT alliance; 
 I'ratrc nttcctcd to be irnparti.il alike to 
 the pn.'ti-f'ant ard to the j-apilt, and to 
 }. ivc ::u ni'.ereft ai iie.irt but the common
 
 Lct.j. and State of EUROPE. 205 
 intcrelr. of the Germanic body. Her de- 
 mands were excciftve, but they were to be 
 Satisfied principally out of the emperor's 
 patrimonial dominions. it had been the 
 art of her minilters to eftablilh this gene- 
 ral maxim on many particular experien- 
 ces, that the grandeur of France was a 
 real, and would be a conitant fecurity 
 to the righrs and liberties of the empire 
 againlt the emperor: and it is no wonder 
 therefore, this maxim prevailing, inju- 
 ries, relentments, and jealoufies being 
 frefh on one fide, and fervices, oblio;a- 
 
 7 O 
 
 tions, and confidence on the other, that 
 the Germans were not unwilling France 
 Ihould extend her empire on this fide of 
 the Rhine, whihl Sweden did the fame 
 on this fide of the Baltic. Thefe trea- 
 ties, and the immenfe credit and influ- 
 ence that France had acquired by them 
 in the empire, put: it out of the power of 
 one branch ot the houle of Auftria to 
 return the obligations of afiiltance to 
 the other, in the war that continued be- 
 tween France and Spain, till the Pyre- 
 nean treaty. By this treaty the fuperio- 
 rity of the houfe of Bourbon over the 
 houlc of Auftria was not only compleced 
 .ind confirmed, but the great defign of 
 
 uniting
 
 206 A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.t. 
 uniting liic Spanifti and the French nion- 
 Jhthics under the former was laid. 
 
 THE third period therefore begins by 
 a great change ot" the balance or power 
 m Europe, and by the prolpc.fr. of one 
 much greater and more ratal. Ik- tore 1 
 ddccnd into the particulars I intend to 
 mention, of the couric or affairs, and of 
 the political condud of the great power:; 
 or Europe in this third period -, give me 
 leave to cait my eyes once more back, on 
 the fccond. The reflection I am going 
 ro make leems to me important, ami 
 leads to all that is to follow. 
 
 Tin- Dutch made their peace feparatrly 
 at Munller with Spair, , whs acknow- 
 ledged tl.cn the iovereit'iity an*! in-ie- 
 pcndency of their commonwealth, i nr 
 Trench, who liad been, after o'.ir l-i.i- 
 ZAiif.ru, their principal !\:p;yjrr, re- 
 proached them fevcrely for ::.!, breacii of 
 tuit!). They exculed therr.k-lvcs in tii?: 
 U;l manner, and by the belt realons 
 they could. All this yuir l'>;i!lhip wui 
 firid in the monument, ol that t::iu-. 
 Hut I ti/nik it not improbable t!;at tii'-y 
 h.ui a motive you will r.ut in: A t!..-:c-,
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 207 
 
 .ind which ic was not proper to give as a 
 rcafon or occult' to the French. Might 
 not the wife men amongfl them confider 
 even then, hefides the immediate advan- 
 tages that accrued by this treaty to their 
 commonwealth, that the imperi.il power 
 was fallen ; that the power of Spain was- 
 vaftly reduced ; that the houle or Auftria 
 was nothing more than the fhadow of a 
 great name, and that the houle of Bour- 
 bon was advancing, by large llrides, to a 
 degree of power as exorbitant, and as 
 formidable as that of the other family had 
 been in the hands of CHARLV.S the ftfth, 
 of PHILIP the fecund, and lately of the 
 two FERDNANDS ? Might they not fore- 
 lee, even then, what happened in the courfe 
 of very few years, when they were obli- 
 ged, for their own fecurity, to afTift their 
 old enemies the Spaniards againd their 
 old friends the French ? I think they 
 might. Our CHARLES the firft was no 
 great politician, and yet he feemed to dif- 
 cern that the balance of power was turn- 
 ing in favor of France, fome years be- 
 rore the treaties of WeitphalLi. He refut- 
 ed to be neuter, and thre.it ned to take 
 part with Spain, if the French puriu- 
 rd the defi^n of bcfiegingr Dunkirk and 
 
 O S 9 
 
 Grave-
 
 2c8 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 Graveline, according to a concert taken 
 between them and the Dutch, and in 
 purlu.incc of a treaty for dividing the 
 Mpamfh Low Countries, winch RICHL- 
 LUL: had negociated. CROMWELL ei- 
 ther did not di!c;-rn this turn of the b.! 
 Lncc of p<iwcr, lo;;.- alter wards when it 
 \vus much more \iii%le; or, difceming 
 ir, he was ::vduad by realons of pri- 
 vate intereft to act .i;;:i!:i(l the general 
 
 c.. ^-^ 
 
 intcrcil of I-iiioj-e. CKOMWLLL join- 
 ed wi'J) France a.'.unlt Sju:n, and tho 
 he got Jamaica ami Dunkirk, he drove 
 the Spaniards into a necelfity of making 
 a peace with J-'rance, that has diilurb- 
 cd the peace of the \vo:ld almoft Jour- 
 fcore years, and the conl quences of 
 which have \vrll-r.iiih beivareil in our 
 times the nation he cnll.ivcd in his. 
 Tiie re is a tradition, I have heard it 
 from perlons who h\ed in thole day., 
 and I believe it cane from 'J'nr;u.)i, 
 that CKOMWI 1. 1. w... in tre;ity with 
 Spam, arid re.dy to turn ins arms a^;ainit 
 France when he died. If thr, Lut was 
 certain, as little as I iionor Ins iiiemory, 
 I fhould have lome regret that he died 
 io l(jon. iJut uii.itever Jus intentions 
 were, we r.iull chaise the PytciR-.tn tic.i-
 
 Let./- and State of EUROPE. 209 
 ty, and the fatal confcqucnccs of ir, 
 in great mcafurc to his account. The 
 Spaniards abliorrcd the thought of 
 marrying their Infanta to LEWIS the 
 fourteenth. It was on this point that 
 they broke the negotiation LIONN'K 
 had begun : and your lordlhip will 
 perceive, that if they refumed it after- 
 wards, and offered the marriage they 
 had before rej eftcd , CROMWELL'S 
 league with France was a principal in- 
 ducement to this alteration of their re- 
 iblutions. 
 
 THE precife point at which the 
 icales of power turn like thru of the 
 iolilice in either tropic, is impercepti- 
 ble to common obfcrvation : and , in 
 one cafe as in the other, fome pro- 
 grefs muft be made in the new di- 
 rection, before the change is perceiv- 
 ed. They who arc in the linking 
 fcale, for in the political balance of' 
 power, unlike to all others, the fcale 
 that is empty links, and that which is 
 full riles -, they who are in the linking 
 fcale do not eafily come off from the 
 habitual prejudices of iupeiior wealth, 
 or power, or Ikill, or courage, nor i.orn 
 O
 
 2io A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 the cor.: Mcnce that theic prejudices in- 
 fpirc. 'I hey \vho arc in the ruing 1 
 fcalc do not immediately iVel their 
 ftrcr.i'th, nor aflume that confidence in 
 it \vhic!i luctelstul experience </ives 
 then afterwards. They who arc the 
 nioft concerned to watch the variations 
 of" tins balance, rnif-jiK'.^e often in the 
 I'-inie ma;nu-r, and trom the lame pre- 
 jik!:cc>. 1'!i'-y t'jntmue to ciread a 
 poNver no lonptr able to hurt them, 
 or they cominue to have no npprchcn- 
 fions or a j -j\\er that <MU\SS daily more 
 forn^.iable. S|u:n verified the tirit 
 rlv.crvntion at the end of" the fecond 
 period, when, pruud and poor, and en- 
 terprifing and feeble, flic fliil t!ioi:;:'it 
 herlclt" a n-arcl; f(^r I-rame. I-'r.;;;ie 
 vn;[":c\l the le^ond c.bierv.it'ujii nt the 
 b-.M-iii!'.'. (t the third peiiud, when the 
 triple aiiiar/'e Hopped the progrtis o" 
 lie;- arir.s, v. !m h aiii.'.nces mueli more 
 to; fi' ; er.ib!'- \seie r,ot r.bic to f::.^: ai- 
 teiv, 'd<>. I !,r other principal powers 
 (.? { ".-, in t! 1 .' ir turns, have vi riii- 
 t.l t!.e :in:d ( hirrvatiiui in I) .-:h it's 
 a:; , ti rcr.. h ti.e whole courle ol ti.:
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 211 
 
 WjiiiM ],i:wis the fourteenth took 
 the adaiinitfration ot allairs into his 
 own hands, about the year one thou- 
 lund iix hundred and fixty , he was in 
 the prime of his age, and had, what 
 princes ieldom have, the advantages of 
 youth and thoie, or experience toge- 
 ther. Their education is generally bad ; 
 for which reafon royal birth , that gives 
 a right to the throne among other peo- 
 ple, gave an ablokite exclufion from 
 it among the Marmalukes. His was , 
 in all rcfpecb , except one, as bad as 
 that of other princes, He jelled fore- 
 times on his o\vn ignorance; and there 
 were other defects in l.i.s character, 
 ovvino; to his education, which he did 
 not fee. But MAZARIN had initia- 
 ted him betimes in:o the myiljrijs of his 
 policy. He had kvn a gre it part of 
 thole foundations laid, on \\hich he was 
 to raife the fabric of his future gran- 
 deur: and as MAZAHIN- tiniihed the 
 work that R i c n z L i u be2".n , he had 
 the leffjns oi ; one, and the examples of 
 both , to i nil nice him. i le had ac- 
 quired habits ot kvrecy and method , 
 in bufinefs ; of referve , difcretion , de- 
 cency, and dignity, in behaviour. If 
 he \vas not the greatcll king, he v/as 
 O 2 the
 
 212 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 the heft -ctor of majclly at lealt, that 
 ever filled a throne. He by no means 
 wanted th.ft courage \\hich is common- 
 ly called bravery , tho the want of it 
 was imputed to him in the midlV. of 
 his greatetl triumphs : nor that other 
 courage , lels oftentatious and more rare- 
 ly found , calm , Heady , pcrfevering re- 
 lolunon : which teems to arife lels from 
 the temper of the body, and is there- 
 fore called courage of the mind. He 
 had them both moll certainly, and I 
 could produce unqueftionablc anecdotes 
 in proof. He was, in one word, much 
 lupenor 10 any prince with whom he 
 had TO do , when he began to govern. 
 He w.is lurroundcd with great cap- 
 tains bred in former wars , and with 
 i:rcat miniflers bred in the fame fchool 
 as himlelf. They who had worked 
 under M A /. A R i s , worked on the lame 
 plan under him ; and as they had the 
 advantage of genius, and experience o- 
 vcr melt or the minifters of other coun- 
 tries, lo they had another advantage 
 over th'/.c who were equal or fuperi- 
 (,r to ti.e.fv. : the advantage of leivin^ 
 .1 m.'ller v,holc ablolute power was c- 
 rt:ii'!,!heii ; .-.:;d t!ir advantage of a f;- 
 ti:r.'..oi: wi.'j:e.;n t.:cy ;i;ii.iii exert t.'ieir 
 
 wliolc
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 213 
 
 whole capacity without contradiction ; over 
 that, for inflance, wherein your lord- 
 fhip's great grand-father was placed, at 
 the fame time, in England, and JOHN 
 DE WIT in Holland. Among thcfe mi- 
 nifters, COLBERT mud be mention- 
 ed particularly upon this occafion , be- 
 caufe it was he who improved the 
 wealth, and confequently the power of 
 France extremely, by the order he put 
 into the finances , and by the encou- 
 ragement he gave to trade and manu- 
 factures. The foil, the climate, the 
 fituation of France, the ingenuity, the 
 induilry , the vivacity of her inhabit- 
 ants are fuch ; (he has fo little want 
 of the product of other countries, and 
 other countries have fo many real or 
 imaginary wants to be fupplicd by her; 
 that when fhe is not at war with all 
 her neighbours, when her domeftic quiet 
 is preferved and any tolerable admini- 
 ftration of government prevails , fhe 
 mutt grow rich at the expence of thofe 
 who trade , and even of thole who do 
 not open a trade , with her. Her baw- 
 bles , her modes , the follies and extra- 
 vagancies of her luxury , cod England , 
 about the time we are ipcaking ot , 
 O 3 little
 
 -14 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let./, 
 little l/fs than ci ; _^t hunJ.red thoufand 
 pou",. it.v.riinr a \ca- , and other nations 
 in their pr : -onions. COLKI.KT made tlic 
 moll or" an i. ..-to advantageous circum- 
 Itanccs , and win hi I\c filled the national 
 fpunge, he taught Irs luLcellvis how to 
 Iquecze it-, a lee ret tint he repented hav- 
 ing difcovercd , they f <v , v, hen he law 
 th-j immenfe fums that WA.,, r'-ceilary to 
 luj)p!v the growing magnificence of his 
 mailer. 
 
 T ; -;S was the ri;ara."ter of LEWIS 
 the io'.jrteemh, a:i.l tins v-'.s the llatc 
 (;t h:s iv.!u.,:om r.t t : < L'vi:ini:in^ cf 
 i'.\~ preien: p*.-r'.fd. ir' his j-o\\x/ -.v;is 
 
 f r re.'.:, hi., p'er, ;-!!';;,:> \vere iliil R:e.'.tv r. 
 lie h.id renu 1 . i, ;u,d the lijl.irita 
 \ ; 'i hs inr.i^p.c; I rejv -I'nccd , all 
 
 r'.^..!-. ru tiie h. _,ii; -;n c.-f Sp.::n , in 
 t;ie iii'w.i!.>-.L t'Tin, t.,.tt i!,e pr. caut.on 
 (l liic /ui.uli <.;' M.. 'rid crviid ccn- 
 
 t :ve. No ....' .i'i iic C')j-,!ci.U\) to 
 
 f re r..!ii!.ii. ;n- , inn your lonilhip 
 
 v.v.l i..a I), i;:- ivi;. , cj M A / A R ! \ , 
 a .Li bv (Jti.: r p.: . i:. ;...' , tii.it he ;:>.t- 
 <-' l '/') t :.^- cvn't- iV jiir.iipi , trmn 
 
 tii-: ii;.: , v.\ I L !; uv<,-.v/d i ' ai'.er- 
 
 . ..ur.. -^^;i .. j .-. j , ; .:ui ;L:I ;i p;c- 
 
 ti. ....' n c .
 
 Lct.y. and State of EUROPE. 21$ 
 tcnfions, fhould have giv?n, one would 
 think, an immediate alarm to the relt 
 of Europe. 1* H i L i 1> the fourth was 
 broken and decayed, like the monarchy 
 he governed. One or his funs died, 
 as 1 remember, during the negocia- 
 tions thai preceded the year one thou- 
 fand fix hundred and fixty : and the fur- 
 vivor, who was C n A R L L s the lecond, 
 rather languilhed, than lived, from the 
 cradle to the grave. So dangerous a 
 contingency, therefore, as the union of 
 the tv.o monarchies of France and 
 Spam, being in vie\v forty years toge- 
 ther ; one would im.igine that the prin- 
 cipal powers of hurope had the means 
 of preventing it coniiantly in view du- 
 ring the lame time. But it was other- 
 wife. France acted very fyftematically 
 from the year one thouiand fix hun- 
 dred and fixty, to the death of king 
 C H A R i. E s the lecond of Spain. She 
 never I'll fight of her great object, 
 the fucccfllon to the whole Spanifh 
 monarchy , and flie accepted the will 
 of the kino- of S p A i N in favor of the 
 
 o 
 
 duke of ANJOU. As Ihe never loft 
 
 fight of her great object during this 
 
 time, lo Hie loit no oj^portwnity of in- 
 
 O 4
 
 216 A Sketch of the His I OR v Let./. 
 
 creaf:ng her power, while fhc waited 
 for that or" lucccetling in her pretenfi- 
 on. T!.c two branches of AuftrU 
 we e in no condirion of making a con- 
 fid; rabic oppofition to her defi^ns and 
 attempts. Holland, who of all other 
 powers was the molt concerned to op- 
 pulc them, was at that time under 
 tv.o in.'i-.i-r.ces that hindered her from 
 puriuing her true Intcrelt. Her true 
 ir.fic ft was to have uled her utrnoft 
 ende.ivour r , to unite clolcly and inti- 
 mat 'y v. :t l i Fm;l,md on the rtfloration 
 of k:i ." C H A :< L L ;. She did the very 
 cop.tr.i:\. JOHN F>L \V i T, at the hrad 
 of t':c I.MUveltcin faction, governed. 
 The i,-,:cTi-(t of l)is party was to keep 
 t!,c I. > f" ot C'ran^e down i he court- 
 (d tiic:cfore the friend fhip ot Fr.mre, 
 nr: ! r.rjlccied that of Kngland. 'J'hc 
 ali!r.n>.v: bet \vecn our nation and the 
 Di.u a Wa; .c.M'wrd, I tlunk, in one 
 thouf.uul f:x hundred and ilxty two ; 
 but the l.r.trr hail made .t ilefenlivc 
 Ic.^'.:c- w:tii Fiance a little before, en the 
 fi.ppofi'jon [Tincipally of a war with 
 t.nri..:'.,!. Tf.r war became inevitable 
 very luor.. f ' M (j M w i L L had chaltilcd 
 them f^r '.J.eir udirpations in trade, 
 
 and
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 217 
 
 and the outrages and cruelties they 
 had committed-, but he had not cured 
 them. The fame fpirit continued in 
 the Dutch , the fame refentments in 
 the Englifh : and the pique of mer- 
 chants became the pique of nations. 
 France entered into the war on the iidc 
 of Holland , but the little afliftance Ihe 
 gave the Dutch mewed plainly enough 
 that her intention was to make thefe 
 two powers wafte their ftrength againft 
 one another , whilft Ihe extended her 
 conqueils in the Spanifh Low Coun- 
 tries. Her invafion of thefe provinces 
 obliged DE WIT to change his con- 
 dud:. Hitherto he had been attached 
 to France in the clofeft manner, had 
 led his republic to ferve all the pur- 
 pofes of France, and had renewed 
 with the marfhal D'Es TRADES a 
 project of dividing the Spanifh Ne- 
 therlands between France and Holland , 
 that had been taken up formerly, 
 when RICHELIEU made ule of it to 
 flatter their ambition , and to engage 
 them to prolong the war againft Spain. 
 A project not unlike to that which 
 was held out to them by the famous 
 preliminaries, and the extravagant bar- 
 
 rier-
 
 2i3 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let./. 
 
 rier-t;eatv, in one thoufand Icvcn hun- 
 dred .:?id nlr.ci and which engaged them 
 t'j continue a war on the principle of 
 
 a...:x:iv.:n , into which they lud entered 
 v/:ch m. re rcaiuiuble mid more moderate 
 \ it .vs. 
 
 the private intercfU of the two 
 PL \Viis i.ij.dcred tli.it common- wealth 
 from tv:n;.; on her <;uard , as early as 
 tiij < '. . . n, ;:f.v'.:iiil l-'r.mce; 
 
 (:) L.. -- .} \ - :xy (-i u.e ci-urt of 
 
 K:i r :.:;,:, an: : ; .^ lh.>rt v>/\:j , a;ul iiic 
 p:. :uic i',:.r l .r or the prince who go- 
 \vT:^\i, f..vc . .'t..L ;.;iv 4 iina[ r -^ to I . i \v i r, 
 t ; kurucniii i:: the pvir.uit ot' his 
 ci '- .. . I!.- Lv'jd,: Du:-,!,':rk: ;-.nd 
 \ -'.., L)!\l;:i!p l-.:.uv. - hc/,v ^rc.it n ci:i- 
 in^r w.is railed on th.i: orcafi^n :.- 
 .:l y-'jr i. >'uie anccltor ; a-> it !u- a- 
 l( n-j i..ivl i'.Lii anfwcrablc ior t!;e mea- 
 l':;\\ ;::.vi i;;-, intereil had been concern- 
 fv! in K. I h.ivc l;e.nvl our late niend 
 M.". (n > (.1. LL.-.KK (juoie a wiuu-j-, 
 v. l.'j \s.^ (JUKI unexe.eption.tblc, bi;i 
 I i.i".i:<i rec.il Iv.s r..iir.e atpreie;.;, w!,o , 
 many years alter ail thele tranlac'uon-. , 
 ar;.l :in: ileaiii oi ;r,v loiJ. CI./.RLN- 
 PON , aliirmetl , that the earl ol SANJJ- 
 
 '.'. ; n
 
 Lct.y. and State of EUROPE. 219 
 
 \VJCH had owned to him, that he hiitl- 
 iclf gave his opinion, among many o- 
 thers , oilkers , and minilUrs, for fel- 
 ling Dunkirk. Their reaions could not 
 be good , 1 prd'umc 10 fay ; but fere- 
 ral, tluu might be plaufiblc at that time, 
 are calily guefied. A prince like king 
 C H A u L b s , who wouid have made as 
 many bad bargains as any young fpend- 
 thnft , for money , finding himielf thus 
 backed, we may allure ourfelves, was 
 peremptorily determined to lell : and 
 whatever your great grand father's o- 
 p'mion was, this 1 am able to pro- 
 nounce upon my own experience, that 
 his treaty for the Tale is no proof he 
 was of opinion to lell. When the re- 
 iblution of felling was once taken, to 
 \vho-n could the file be ma.le ? To the 
 Dutch ? No. I his meafure would 
 h.ive been ac Icaft P.S impolitic, and, in 
 that mo.nj'it, puviaps more odious 
 thin tli: ciher. To the Spaniards? 
 They were unable to buy: and, as 
 low as their p.-\ver was Sunk, the prin- 
 ciple of n fV<'f.ng ^ ^ Ll ^ prevailed. I 
 have lb;netir,K-> thought that the Spa- 
 niards, w!io \vere forced to makepeace 
 with PoiLU^alj aixi to renuunce ail 
 
 claim
 
 220 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let./, 
 claim to that crown , four or five yean 
 afterwards, might have been induced to 
 take this refolurion then , if the regain- 
 ing Dunkirk without any expence had 
 been a condition propoled to them , and 
 that the Portuguese , who , notwithftand- 
 ing their alliance with England and the 
 indirect iuccours that France afforded 
 them, were little able, after the treaty 
 especially, to Support a war againft Spain, 
 might have been induced to pay the 
 price of Dunkirk, for fo great an ad- 
 vantage- as immediate peace with Spain, 
 and tiie extinction of all foreign pre- 
 tences on their crown. But this Specu- 
 lation concerning events fo long ago paf- 
 led h not much to the purpole here. I 
 proceed therefore to oblerve , that not- 
 \vith (landing the fale ot Dunkirk , anil 
 the ieciet leanings of our court to that 01 
 }-'rance , yet Kngland was firl\ to take 
 the alarm, when LEWIS the fourteenth 
 invaded the Spanifh Netherlands in one 
 thouland fix hundred and fixty (even : 
 antl the triple alliance was the work ol 
 an l ; .n|'lifh minifler. It was time r<> 
 take this alarm; for from the moment 
 thar the k:r,r, of I-'PAKCE claimed a right 
 l> the Cv.uMy ot !''i.^'.inc!v , the dutchy 
 
 oi
 
 Let. 7. aud State of EUROPE. 22! 
 of Brabant, and other portions of the 
 I ,ow Countries as devolved on his queen 
 by the death of her father PHILIP the 
 fourth , he pulled off the mafk entirely. 
 Volumes were written to eftablifh, and 
 to refute this fuppofed right. Your lord- 
 fhip no doubt will look into a contro- 
 veriy that has employed fo many pens 
 and fo many fwordsj and I believe you 1 
 will think it was diffidently bold in the 
 French , to argue from cuftoms , that 
 regulated the courfe of private fuccefli- 
 ons in certain provinces , to a right of 
 fuccecding to the ibvereignty of thole 
 provinces; and to aiTert the divifibili- 
 ty of the Spanifh monarchy , with the 
 fame breath with which thty aflerted the 
 indivifibility of their own , altho the 
 proofs in one cafe were juft as good as 
 ihe proofs in the other, and the funda- 
 mental law of indivifibility was at lead 
 as good a law in Spain, as either this 
 or the Salique law was in France. But 
 however proper it might be for the 
 French and Auftrian pens to enter into 
 long difcufllons, and to appeal, on this 
 great occalion , to the reft of Europe ; 
 the reft of Europe had a fnort objec- 
 tion to make to the plea of F'rance, 
 
 which
 
 r22 A Sketch of the His TORY Let. 7. 
 
 which no fophiKi> , no quirks of law, 
 coui 1 cv.;. Sp.iHi accepted the le- 
 
 nur. ;:.;t. /in as .1 rral 1 curity : France 
 3\v tfvm a:> :jC.\ tobpam, and in cf- 
 fixt to the r. It or hi.; ope. If they 
 h...! :vit be.n thus j ivm , and thus tak- 
 ci, ii;c L'..:iiard WH:!'.! ;iot h.:vc n>ar- 
 ii'\i Un;r l:.:.iu:.i :o t;:c l;.i;^ or F^ANI-E, 
 vh;:;cvcr laurels thev i:.: L 'iu have en- 
 t!ur-d bv t'.c ])ri;lu., r ;ation >r the war. 
 'i he-It- renunciations were rci.unciatiuns 
 iA ...i iii.'lr.s \\hatiocvcr to the \vholc 
 Span ill m naKJiy, and to every p-nc or 
 it. 'I lie pMiviicc.s clai.ix-i'. by 1'iancc 
 .:t t!.!b t'ur.e were pails or it. To claim 
 l!u-;n, v.'a , tr.'.'ierore to ti.i'.in :!ie \\ii<le; 
 1'ir .t th-j u-iuir.t ia:.o;:s were no bar to 
 t!ic ri.ht. .i.cru,: t> M.\:'Y TMLIU-.SA 
 on t!.e de.r.h <-T her i'atlit-r Pun. IP the 
 tuvirth , ;K;tiu-r lovild the\ be :inv to tlic 
 r ; f .!iat uovild accrue ro iier ;t!ui iier 
 
 c!i;i>::i;-, o:; il; C.( ..'.h ot !;cr brotiu-r 
 Cn,\. .:..-, i!.f ;;Cf)r,vi-: r.n ii!,i:'-.;!: : ,iul 
 yi:'fi, -vi v. !-.) ."i ilio i.ui.in; v...s ;;i i;r.- 
 i. ' il.-.nfTrr <; i.) :n-2. ; tor to all the 
 . .11 >i trii;jAi'.s he bruiij'ht in- 
 
 . M ,.! 'A .'h !i'.!!i , the liriall pox 
 '.. ^ .r i 1 '.;:'.!.. p Ires \\<>\\ the 
 t.u:itJ."-i T ciuy o! i:./.t;ii^ the two 
 
 r.ion-
 
 l.ct.y- and State of EUROPE. 223 
 monarchies of France and Spain flared 
 mankind in the face; and yet nothing, 
 that I can remember, was done to pre- 
 vent it : not ib much as a guaranty gi- 
 ven , or a declaration made to afTert the 
 validity of thele renunciations, and tor 
 lecunng the circct of them. The triple 
 alliance indeed (lopped the progrels ot 
 the French arms , and produced the trea- 
 ty of Aix la Chapelle. But Flngland, 
 Sweden , and Holland , the contracting 
 powers in this alliance , leemed to look , 
 and probably did look, no farther. France 
 kept a great and important part of what 
 file had furpri^cd or rav::hed, or pur- 
 chafed ; for we cannot lay with any pro- 
 priety that me conquered: and the Spa- 
 niards were obliged to let all they laved 
 to the account of </, : in. The German 
 branch of AiUtria had been reduced very 
 low in power and in credit under FJ.K- 
 DFN'AND the third, bv the treaties of 
 Wellphalia, as I have laid ahvndy. Lr.\v;s 
 the fourteenth maintained, dum^ iv.;iny 
 \ear>, the inilucnce tivjie treaties had 
 yivc'i him p.monsj; the pnnc-.:s and ibues 
 or t ; :r e.r.pire. The i.nr.ous capitulation 
 n:ade a: FrankiVrt en tde civC.u;n of 
 LII^POLJ, \vho luceeeJed Fi::i:):\*ANi> a- 
 b.;u: t:ie vear one tho;:l;::d fix hundred and 
 
 hiiv
 
 it$ A Sketch of the Hi STORY Lrt.j; 
 
 titty levcn, was encouraged by the intrigue.? 
 of France : and the power of France was 
 looked upon as tire lole power that could 
 ratify and fccure effectually the oblerva- 
 tion of the conditions then msdr. The 
 league of the Rhine was not renewed 
 1 believe after the year one thoufand 
 fix hundred and iixty fix -, but tho this 
 league was not renewed, yet fume of thclc 
 princes and ftates continued in rhcir old 
 rnr'.is'c-nicnt with France: whillt others 
 
 C> 
 
 took new engagements on particular oc- 
 caiions , according as private and fome- 
 tirncs vcrv paultry interefts , and the cmil- 
 faries of i-'.mcc in all their little courts, 
 lilpok\i them. In Ihort the princes ot Gcr- 
 j;i.::,y livjued n-j >.iarm at the growing am- 
 biiion ;irul pov.jr u! LEWIS the fourteenth, 
 but contributed to encourage one, and to 
 column tlu- otncr. In luch a lUte of 
 ihir.ps ti.r (icrnuin branch was little able 
 [o Jliil tiu 1 Spar.ifh branch againit France, 
 fi;J-.v-r in the \v.\r that ended by the Py- 
 reiican trc.nv, <>r in that we are (peaking 
 
 / * L *^s 
 
 < l here, tiie in"! t war that began in one 
 ihuuland fix hundred and fixty ieven, and 
 \v.'s ended by the treaty of Aix la Cha- 
 pelle, in one thoufand fix hundred and 
 fixty f'.;:l.t. Hut ir was not tlm aluntf 
 t.iat dilablcd tiie emperor troin acting 
 
 with
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 225 
 
 with vigor in the caufc of his family then, 
 nor that has rendered the houfe of Aullria 
 a dead weight upon all her allies ever fmcc. 
 Bigotry, and its infcparable companion, 
 cruelty, as well as tlic tyranny and avarice 
 of the court of Vienna, created in thole 
 days, and has maintained in oun, almoft a 
 perpetual diveriion of the imperial arms 
 from all effectual oppofition to France. I 
 mean to fpeak of the troubles in Hungary. 
 Whatever they became in their progrets, 
 they were cauied originally by the ulurpa- 
 ti-jiij and perlecutions of the emperor : and 
 \v!icn the Hungarians were called rebe-Js 
 rlrft, they were called fo for no other rcafoa 
 than this, that t !;.-) 'would not be flaves. 
 The dominion of the emperor being lefs 
 fiipportable than tliat of the Turks, this 
 unhappy people opened a door to tiie latter 
 to infell the empire, inftead of making 
 their country what it had been before, a 
 barrier againft the Ottoman power. France 
 became a fure, tho fecret ally of the Turks, 
 as well as the Hungarians, and has found 
 her account ;n ir, by keeping the e.v.peror 
 in perpetual alarms on chat li-.ie, vvhiic flie 
 has ravaged the empire and the Low Coun- 
 tries on the other. Thus we iaw, thirty 
 two years ago, the arms or France and Ba- 
 viria in poileillon of Paflau , .i:id tb.e m.'.i- 
 1 J < on:, nts
 
 226 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 contents of Hungary in the fuburbs of Vi- 
 enna. In a word, when LEWIS the four- 
 teenth made the firft clVay of hia power, by 
 the uar of one thouland fix hundred and 
 fixty feven, and founded, as it were, the 
 councils of Europe concerning his prcten- 
 fions on the Spanifh fucccflion , he- found 
 hi*, power to be great beyond what Ins 
 neighbours or even he perhaps thought it : 
 prcat by the wealth, and greater by the 
 united Ipirit of his people; greater itill by 
 i!.e ill policy, and divided interefts that 
 governed thole who had a fupcrior com- 
 mon intercil to op pole him. Me found 
 that the members of the triple alliance did 
 not lee, or feeing did not think proper to 
 ov/n that they faw , the injuitice, and the 
 v o;ilequence of hi3 prctenfions. They cori- 
 u : ted themlelves to ^r.e ;o SV..;:,i an .^r 
 of guaranty lor fecunni r ti.c exfi. './tion ol 
 the treaty ofAix la C i.a| -eile. He knr\v 
 even then }.:AV ill the guaranty would he 
 f'bferveil bv two of them ;' leall, by l r .n<f- 
 l.ind anil !>v Sweden. T^e ti'v.nv itlcit 
 was iv :!..?;.'. more tlv.n ;i t.":r^H'ii.i<>n bc- 
 tv.i-ri :!.i i^ully . ; :ul thr- buliirii. '1'ournay, 
 .1: 'd 1 . lie , a:u! i>A\.iy, ;;!..: other pl.'.ccs 
 th.r i h.:vt- jori-nt , \\-rr \ieliied to him: 
 i'i in'.:', ut Uur. iiiuiy , 
 :'.; i.j ;. .;i t!i.;: Spain IM.U!;', 
 
 ai
 
 Let. 7. andStats ofEuROPE. 227 
 
 againit the intercir. and expectation too 
 of the Dutch, when an option was forced 
 upon her. The king of SPAIN compounded 
 ior his poflellion : but the emperor com- 
 pounded at the lame time tor his fuc- 
 ceflion , by a private eventual treaty of 
 partition, which the commander of GRE- 
 MONVJLLE and the count of AVERSBERG 
 iigned at Vienna. The lame LEOPOLD, 
 who exclaimed lo loudly , in one thou- 
 fand fix hundred and ninety eight, againft 
 any partition of the Spanifh monarchy, 
 and rcfulcd to fubmit to that which Ens- 
 
 Zr 
 
 land and Holland had then made, made 
 one himfelf in one thoufand fix hundred 
 and fixty eight , with fo little regard 
 to thcie two powers , that the whole ten 
 provinces were thrown into the loc q 
 France. 
 
 THERE is no room to wonder if fuch ex- 
 perience as LEWIS the fourteenth had upon 
 this occuiion, and fuch a face of affairs in 
 Europe, railing his hopes , raifed his am- 
 bition : and it, in making peace at Aix 
 la Cluipelle, he meditated a new war, the 
 war ot one thoufand fix hundred and fevcn- 
 ty two; the preparations he made for it, by 
 negoriation? in ail parts, by alliances \vhcre- 
 cvcr he touad ingrelTion, and by the in- 
 t 2 creafc
 
 22? A Sketch of tin- HISTORY Let. j. 
 
 ere a ic or" his forces, were er,;iai!y proofs of 
 ahilitv, intiullry, and po\ur. I lliall nut 
 defcend inro theK- .irticnlars : \ >.!' If^rd- 
 fhip w'll iiiid them j-reny wei! deiadr-.i ;r7 
 the memorials 01 that time. PHU r,r,c of 
 the all.aruvs lie rvcidr 1 r:n - fV mention, tho 
 I nu-n'ior, ;: w.th thr t;rrr.r,i v re:"xt and in- 
 
 . 
 
 the peace .;r,,l t.hc hberry ( r Hurope, n.iy, 
 a^ainil her own p(.uc a;iJ her own liberty ; 
 l"',r a bubiv-'s jsart it wa?, equally wicked 
 and i:r/;:ul!:;i:. l-'uiyjvc the terms I ujt\ 
 my lord : nor.e can be too flronr. TJic 
 pj.rciplcs ('t \.h<- triple all ai^ce , i>:!t and 
 \v;!e, .:i:.l \\ :i!'\ "i a king ot I'.'wianJ , 
 nv:.- ]. 4 ;ii . f,,:c-. 'I'.i.*:!, the po:jr<, i or the 
 l-rnirh anv^ v,a<, ro !,> c '.rclxcu , rhr :-n 
 t : vi;:tei v. c'e ! j i < i..\i!, .,11 ! 1 v l.ivii'.j 
 
 O 
 
 them the b..r:ier ' i f . !i '.: ^.is it; be p;c- 
 Icrvcd. No.'., v,\- j'.:;; -.: oiir counlt Is and 
 ('U- .ir;v ;';. !"; M ; . ..:; e, in a project 
 
 t', ('.(ill.: I,- ; b-- ( ,.rr:c\! r r, ..: .ill, a <\ \v;js 
 e.iiv (M t" r i ! r, ;::).! .is ;..etvi:it Hicxvi-;!, 
 i::i!'-! ii v/.;s ( .rr.;\: : ;i ;!.:..::,;t Sp, :i, i';j 
 C;:, .:'.-. ! .".: l! "f the- p'i:Ks or (t.T- 
 
 
 ii;:re!y .'.t [i;;- 
 her rcti-fv -
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 229 
 
 and opportunity of ravaging the empire > 
 and extending her conqueds on the Rhine. 
 The medal of VAN HLININGHEN , an 1 
 other pretences that I'runce took for at- 
 tacking the (hues of the Low Countries , 
 \vere ridiculous. They impoled on no one: 
 and the true object of I, i;wis the fourteenth 
 was manifed to all But what could a king 
 of England mean? CHARLKS the fecond 
 had re. ilbns of rclentment againit the Dutch, 
 and jud one* too r.o doubt. Among the 
 red, it was not eafy lor him to forget the 
 affront he had fu tiered, and tiie loi"-, he had 
 fudained, when, depending on the peace 
 that \VH> ready to be limned, and that was 
 figneu at Breda in July, he neglected to fit 
 out his fleet-, and when that of Holland, 
 commanded by RUVTLR, with CORNELIUS 
 DE WIT on board as deputy or com mi f- 
 fioner of the itates, burnt his Ships at Cha- 
 .tham in June. The famous perpetual edict, 
 as i: vva.^ called bi;: did not prove in the 
 event, againit the eledion of a date-holder, 
 which JOHX DC, WIT promoted, carried, 
 and obliged the prince of ORANGE to I'.vr.T 
 to maintain a very few clays after the con- 
 clulion ot the peace at Breda, might be 
 another motive in tiie bread of kin<: 
 
 CHAKLES ihe kcond : as it \v..>, ccrca: i 
 
 pretence 01 revenge on thcDutcr., or a: Ic.ul 
 P 3 on
 
 230 ASketchof thcHin ORY Let. 7. 
 
 on thePE WITS and the I.ouveftcin faction, 
 that ruled almoil defpotically in that com- 
 monwealth. Hut it is plain that neither 
 thcfc rcafons nor others of a more ancient 
 date, determined him to this alliance with 
 France > fince he contracted the triple al- 
 liance within four or five months after the 
 two events, I have mentioned, happened. 
 What then did he mean ? Did he mean to 
 acquire one $t the leven provinces, and di- 
 vide them, as the Dutch had twice ti cared 
 for the divifion of the ten, with France ? I 
 believe not-, hut this I believe, that his in- 
 clinations were favourable to the popifh m- 
 tercft in general, and that he meant to make 
 liimlelf more ablolutc at home-, that he 
 thought it ncccHary to this end to humble 
 the Dutch, to reduce their power, anil p'T- 
 hnps to change tMe form of their 'j'uern- 
 ir.ent ; to deprive his fubjects of t!:e cor- 
 rcfpondrrcc v. .th a nei^hinjunnp, prritel^ant 
 and free (late, and of ail hope ot !v,c( i>ur 
 and lupi'ort Ironi tlr.r.ce in their opp"fit;on 
 jo him i in a \vrrd :o . 4 l>ct il.e dJ; : :ns of 
 t'ranc'.' on the cominenv, that I'r.'.nce mi^h.t 
 a ; lief; 7 r > o r i ! :s o\\ :i !.!r."d :". 
 
 '!'. , ! i'-;-, I 1- !''( ; ":-' tl-.i: I n,-,i:K! v,n- 
 t..' ' ..f :; ; :r , I ii.if! ;:i irv h.iiiv!-- \o 
 ji' u c. .'.: v ;. .T nl-rru to I]UD:C, tr 1 /.: 
 \ :/.:' ; ...;.. :.' 1 ;...\f r^d formerly, tir-v.-;;
 
 Let. 7. and State of u ROPE. 231 
 
 up by thole who were no enemies to fuch 
 clefigns, and on the authority of thofe 
 who were parties to them. But what- 
 ever king CHARLES the fecond meant, 
 certain it is that .his conduct eltabliflicd 
 .the fuperiority of France in Europe. 
 
 BUT this charge., however, mull not be 
 .confined to him alone. Thofe who v/ere 
 nearer the danger, thofe who were expoied 
 .to the immediate attacks of France, and 
 even thole who were her rivals for the fame 
 fuccefiion, having either affiiled her, or en- 
 gaged to remain neuters, a itrange fatality 
 prevailed, arid produced iuch a conjunc- 
 ture as can hardly be paralleled in hiftory. 
 Your lordfhip will oblerve with aftonifli- 
 ment even in the beginning of the year 
 one thoufand fix hundred and leventy two, 
 all the neighbours of France acting as if 
 .thev had nothing to rear from her, and 
 
 - O 
 
 Jfomc as it tliey had much to hope, by 
 helping l;er to opprels the Dutch and 
 {baring with her the fpoils of that common- 
 wealth. " Deknda eft Carthago," was the 
 crv in England, and ieemed too a maxim 
 
 O 
 
 on the continent. 
 
 IN the courfe of the fame year, you v/ill 
 
 oblcrve that all thele powers took the alarm, 
 
 ]/ 4 a "id
 
 232 A Sketch df the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 and bc^an to unite in opp<>fiuon to France. 
 Even Jutland thought ir time to inrcrpofe, 
 in favor or the I)utc!i. The coniequcnccs 
 of this alarm, of this fudden turn in the 
 policy of Europe, and of that \\hich hap- 
 pened by the maffccre c?f the DC \\Vrs, 
 and the elevation of the prince of ORANGE, 
 in the government ot the K vc:i provinces, 
 f.ived th<-lc provinces, and Hopped the ra- 
 pid pro.'.rds ot the ..iinsot France. I.iwis 
 the tiairtci nih indeed lurprilcd the leven 
 p rr vi::res in ihi^ %var, as he had lurpriled 
 t::e t.;i in tl'..it or one thouiand iix lunuired 
 r.r, i f;\'y ll-ven, a.':t! rava;:e(! tlefenceleis 
 (i...n;;ii-.s \vuh arm:e . luificient to conquer 
 t'.tm, ii they had lx < n prepared to refill. 
 l:i the: v. :\r of ore t!>oi.j",inii fix hunched 
 . :-.d Jevertv tv.<\ !;e Iiad little !vfs th.'.n one 
 li'ir.i lev! ;ui i I'.ity t!ioi:!:iui rr.en on f:-ot, 
 I". liJ.i !>o :es of 1-iii'lilli, .Swii'v, Im- 
 
 J:.!:/, a:-.c ; >\v -, , '.' .t. a;iu>untid :<> ti.ir- 
 t v or }' :v :!;<;;:;'.'. ,d nv/re. \\';ih this 
 rv.:.:!v.y '. : : (.. t;- *k rony J iaces in forty 
 i 1 '. ' . i:ii, ;. .! i x;: .:\ a. .:: conditions of 
 . ..-, | i.-ved the iv;.;:..r> !i a !::t!e \\h:!c 
 
 oJ ; ie ji 
 l.ii C'.'iir, 
 b.:c!; to
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPF. 233 
 
 nnd left his generals to carry on his cn- 
 tcrprize : which they did with fo little 
 fuccefs, that Grave nnd Macllricht alone 
 remained to him or' all the boaltcd conquefts 
 he had made , and even thcfc he offered 
 two years afterwards to reftorc, it by that 
 conceiTion he could have prevailed on the 
 Dutch at that time to make peace with him. 
 But they were not yet difpofed to abandon 
 their allies ; for allies now they had. The 
 emperor and the king of SPAIN had engaged 
 in the quarrel againlt France, and many of 
 the princes of the empire had done the fame. 
 Not all. The Bavarian continued obfti- 
 nate in his neutrality, and to mention no 
 more, the Swedes made a great diverfion 
 in favour of France in the empire-, where 
 the duke of HANOVER abetted their defigns 
 ;is much as he could, for he was a zealous 
 partilan of France, tho the other princes 
 of his houfe acled for the common caufc. 
 ] licfcend into no more particulars. The 
 war that l.,t.wis the fourteenth kindled by 
 attacking in Ib violent a m. inner the Dutch 
 commonwealth, and by making fo arbitra- 
 ry an ufe of his firft fuccJy, became gene- 
 ral, in the Low Countrirs, in Spain, in 
 Sicily, on r!i.- upper and lower Rhine, in 
 Denmark, in Sweden, ar.d in the provinces 
 of Germany belonging :o theie two crowns ; 
 
 on
 
 234 A Sketch of die HISTORY Let. 7. 
 on the Mediterranean, the Ocean, and the 
 Baltic. France Supported this war with 
 advantage on every iidc : and when your 
 lormlup confidcrs in what manner it was 
 carried on againfl her, you will not be 
 furp riled th.it ihc did fo. Spain had ipirit, 
 but too little itrength to maintain her power 
 in Sicily, where Meflina had revolted -, to 
 defend her frontier on that fide of the Py- 
 renees ; and to refill the great efibrts of ilic 
 French in the Low Countries. The em- 
 pire was divided i and, even among the 
 princes who acted againft Fiance, there 
 was neither union in their councils, nor 
 concert in their projects, nor order in pre- 
 parations, nor vi^or in execution: and, 
 to fay the truth, there was nor, in the whole 
 confederacy, a man whole abilities could 
 make him a match for the prince of CONPF. 
 or the maifrnl of TURE^NM ; nor many who 
 were in any decree equal to LUXEMBURG, 
 CREOII, S(HO.\:EKG, and oiher general, 
 of inferior note, who commanded the ar- 
 mies oj France. The emperor took thu 
 very t:me to make new invafions on the 
 l;bertifs of I Iirn;ary, and to opprv-ls li,-, 
 proieitant iubjcdts. I he prince 01 OR/-V. 
 alone acted v.itii ir.viiKibK' {innaus, like 
 a p.t:no'. :ui a iiero. NeitruT the lc- 
 dut-tioiu ot j-'rar.ce i.-or tli^le oi Lr^land, 
 
 nei'.her
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 23$ 
 
 neither the tcmptattons of ambition nor 
 thole of private inrereft could make him 
 fwerve from the true intcrcil of his country, 
 nor from the common intereit of Kuropc. 
 He had railed more fu-g-es, and loft more 
 
 O 
 
 battles, it was laid, than any general of hii 
 age had done. Be it fo. But his defeats were 
 manifeftly due in great meafurc to circum- 
 itances independent on him : and that fpirit, 
 which even thele defeats could not deprels, 
 was all his own. He had difficulties in his 
 own commonwealth; the governors of the 
 Spanifh Low Countries crofted his mea- 
 fures iometimes : the German allies dilap- 
 pointed and broke them often : and it is 
 not improbable that he was frequently be- 
 trayed. He was fb perhaps even by 
 SOUCHES, the rmperial genera! : a French- 
 man according to BAVLL, and a penfioner 
 of Louvois according to common report, 
 and very iiror^ appearances. He had not 
 yet credit ;::i.i av,:r.ori:y luificient to make 
 him a centre of union to a whole confede- 
 racy , the foul that animated and directed 
 fo great a body. He came to be luch af- 
 terwards; bun at the time fpoken of lie 
 could not t:ike fo crrcar a part upon him. 
 No other prince or o-cr/,",ai \v.;s cqunl to it : 
 ;!nd the conlequer.Ci.s of this delect ;ipnea;cii 
 almoit in ev.ry cycratio.i. i-:\ince v/as lur- 
 
 rounded
 
 236 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 7. 
 
 rounded by 4 multitude of enemies, all in- 
 tent to demohlh her powc.r. But, like the 
 builders of B..bcl, they Ipoke different lan- 
 guages ; and as thole could not build, thelo 
 could not demolifh, tor v.ant ot un.lerftanci- 
 in;: one another France improved this ad- 
 vantage by her arms, and more by her nego- 
 tiation . Nimcghcn was, alter Column, tlic 
 Jcene ot tlule. Kngland was the mediating 
 pov>cr, andl know not whether ;;us CHAR i.j.s 
 t!ic fecond did not lerve her purpo'.es more, 
 uletully in the latter, anil under the cha- 
 racter ot mediator, than he did or could 
 have done by joining his arms to hcr'.s, and 
 a<fting as her ally. The Dutch were in- 
 duced to firn a treaty v. ah him, that broke 
 the confederacy, and Lave ;::cat advantage 
 to France: tor th<- purpose ot it was to 
 oblige France and Spain to make peace on 
 a ph'.n to be prupoled to them, and no 
 mention was made in it of the other allie.s 
 that 1 remember. The Dutch were {.ih'.d 
 to t:<t out o! an expenlivc war. France 
 promiird to icllore Mae(\iic!u to them, and 
 \laeilncht was the only place that remain- 
 ed Ufieetn'eretl of" all they had Idl. They 
 droppei! Sp:un .it Ni'V.c ^'.lien, a>. they l'.:d 
 c:r.;p|,r.i France :;t M-.i.iiier, 1 ut ir.any 
 f lie :n It .P( ( '; c-iiuurred to L'lvc.' a |':U'. h 
 woilc ;- r acC to t:.;: 4 MndoniiV oi "
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 
 
 than to their abandoning of France. I 
 need not Ipecify them. This only I would 
 oblcrve : when they made a leparate 
 peace at Munller, they left an ally who 
 was in condition to carry on the war alone 
 with advantage, and they prelumed to im- 
 poie no terms upon him : when they made 
 a leparate peace an Nimeghcn, they aban- 
 doned an ally who was in no condition to 
 carry on the war alone, and who was re- 
 duced to accept whatever terms the com- 
 mon enemy preicribcd. In their great dif- 
 trefs in one thouland fix hundred and fe- 
 venty three, they engaged to reltore Maef- 
 tricht to the Spaniards as loon as it mould 
 be retaken : it \v:>s not retaken, and they 
 accepted it for themfelves as the price of 
 the leparate peace they made with France. 
 The Dutch had engaged farther, to make 
 neither peace nor truce with the king of 
 FRANCE, till that prince con fen ted to reltore 
 to Spain all he had conquered fince the 
 Pytvnean treaty. But, tar from keeping 
 tills promife in anv tolerable degree, LEWIS 
 the fourteenth acquired, or the plan im- 
 poied on Spain at N";;r,-gh:jn, btfides the 
 county of Burgundy, ib many other coun- 
 tries and towns on the fide oi" the ten Spa- 
 nilh provinces, that tnefe, added to the 
 places he kept of thcfe which had been 
 
 yielded
 
 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7, 
 
 yielded to him by the treaty of Aix la C'lu- 
 pelle (tor lomc ofr little confequence he re- 
 iloredy put into his I .amis the principal 
 ftrcngth of that barrier, againft which we 
 goaiicd ourfelvcs ahnolt to death in the 
 UA great war i and made good the laying 
 of the rr.afhal of SCHOMBEKO, that to at- 
 tack ti.iN barrier wai> to t.ikc the beall by 
 his horns. I know very \vcll what n ay be 
 Uid to cxcuL' the Uutch. The emperor 
 was more intent to tyrannize his fubjocis 
 on one liiie, tiun to defend ihcm on the 
 other, lie attempted little aguinit France, 
 and the little he did attempt was ill order- 
 ed, and worie executed. 'I he afliuance oi 
 the princes of Ocrmany was olten uncer- 
 tain, and always cxpcnfive. Spain wag 
 already indebted to Holland Jur great 
 Kin;*-, greater fliil mud be advanced to 
 ht.r it tiic war continued : and experience 
 (hewed ti.at France was able, and would 
 continue, to prevail agamft her prcleiu er*c- 
 mics. The triple league i.i;i ll >pprd her 
 pio^rcls, and ubligni her to .ibancion tlie 
 county of Bur^vmviy ; but Sweden wr.s 
 now engaged in tin- war on the lidc of 
 IT. trur, as Knjil.;nd had been in the be- 
 giMi:.n;' ot it : .'iul Kn^land was now pr;- 
 VriK ly tav(jrabl': to her inrereits, as Swe- 
 den had been in the beginning of it. The 
 
 vhole
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 239 
 
 whole ten provinces would have been fub- 
 dued in the courfe of a few campaigns more : 
 and it was better for Spain and the Dutch 
 too, that part fhould be taved by accepting 
 a fort of compofition, than the whole be 
 rifqued by refufing it. This might be al- 
 ledged to excule the conduct of the States 
 
 O 
 
 General, in impofing hard terms on Spain -, 
 in making none for thfir other allies, and 
 in figning alone: by which fteps they gave 
 France an opportunity that me improved 
 with great dexterity of management, the 
 opportunity of treating with the confede- 
 rates one by one, and of beating them by 
 detail in the cabinet, if I may fo fay, as 
 (he had often done in the field. I fhall not 
 compare thefe reafons, which were but too 
 well founded in fa6t, and muft appear 
 plaufibk at lead, with other confederations 
 that might be, and were at the time, in- 
 lilted upon. I confine myfelfto a few ob- 
 fcrvations, which every knowing and im- 
 partial man mnft admit. Your lordfhip 
 will obfervc, firft, that the fatal principle of 
 compounding with LEWIS the fourteenth, 
 from ihe time that his pretenfions, his 
 power, and the ufc he made of it, begun 
 to threaten Europe, prevailed ftill more ac 
 Nimeghen than it had prevailed ac Aix: 
 fo that aiclio he did not obtain to the lull 
 
 all
 
 240 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 ail he attcmj.'.ed, yet the dominie,;* ol' 
 Trance were by common v_oniuu, on cveiy 
 treaty, more a:iJ more extended ; her bar- 
 riers on all :Li-.^ v. r:e more and more 
 ftrciitthencd ; ilujle ol her neighbours were 
 more and more weakened ; and that power, 
 which was to .ihuc one da\, a^amit the 
 re,t o; L.urojn\ the pretended n r vus oi the 
 houie oi B'jur.njn t j r;;e Spar.::h monar- 
 chy, v.u^ more and more tltabhfhcd, and 
 rendered truly ionmdablr in liu h hands at 
 lead, di.nng the courle ot t.u hnl eighteen 
 years oi the per;oj. Your i-j:cm:p will 
 plcalc to obferw, in t!;e le.ond place, than 
 the extreme \\ea!\.ncls oi uie branch (vt ^\LI- 
 ilna, and the m:ierablc conuu^L ui 
 the poverty ol loine oi the pr.nc.-" 
 empire, and ti.e dilumon, an,:, i 
 
 plainly, ti.e 
 t'ieir. i in fho 
 
 mercenarv } i'!.i V 
 ::, the co.-uir.ed vit 
 
 I all oi' 
 
 v. , ti.e 
 
 ialle notion ), 
 
 to ii)e.h .: > ri 
 
 i ; , y o I 
 
 my o-.vn a> (;! 
 
 u;her nai;.)j. , t'u- 
 
 
 (>. f the i '>i;;x il 
 
 is ii j- 1. <-l. :..:, >\ : 
 
 liiv iliil- 
 
 cleretl the ; >'. 
 
 . ;h ol : is JMV. er j; . 
 
 m 1". :CL; 
 
 lioppcil ;n ti 
 
 i e , l?..t mnle.I i; 
 
 t.jj MiLO 
 
 llreii;'th alm<j| 
 
 t mlnj L;. .;!- iiv ..n 
 
 ; n.ture 
 
 C(jn: .-cr.u \ . 
 
 ;\ liiii'il tili.-rv a'mn 
 
 is thii : 
 
 It' tiie '-XClil'-s 
 
 1 Jl.'i .'" ! i T t i. .' (' if.dlJ 
 
 it ot the 
 
 13utc. ; i .it N :tr. 
 
 !..! .-.'.< !, p. !r \ 
 
 n: they 
 
 tuO lliUit c... 
 
 v- ;n i^; ti.tir \ia:c 
 
 in ;!n;
 
 Lct.T. and State of EUHSPE. 241 
 
 condemnation, even after the death of the 
 DE WIT---, as they were to be condemned 
 moil juiliy, during that adminiltration, 
 tor abetting and favoring France. It 
 thelb cxcufcs, grounded on their inability 
 to puriiu' any longer a war, the print 'pal 
 proiit or which was to accrue to their con- 
 federates, for that was the cale after th.e 
 year one thoufand fix hundred and feven- 
 ty three, or one thouf.md fix hundred and 
 leventy Jour, and the principal burden of 
 which was thrown on them by th ir jon 
 federates , it thcfe are I'.iffirji'.Tic, they Ihould 
 not have acted K,r eleven y's fake. as well 
 as out Oi >>,ooJ policy, the part they did 
 act in one thouhind icM.-n hundred and ele- 
 ven and one tiunland feven hundred and 
 twelve, towur;1s the kite y.ceri, who had 
 compiair.iS or tin- L.rue k.;nJ, in a much 
 higher de ; .v" cc an i wi'Ji cn\urnibinces much 
 more a^v-va:;:^, to make oi them, of 
 the cm^ei^r, .:r.J ot all the prince: or Ger- 
 many , iin.i vviio v/a.s far rroni rreamr; t!vj:n 
 and their ocher ail'e>. at: ti;..t tune, as they 
 treated Sp.'.in and th: t r o;!vjr i\\[:<:i in cr:e 
 tho;.l..r.ci iix hundred and ievvnt'.' eight. 
 Immediately at'ier ii\e D-jtcii iiad made their 
 peace, that of Spain was tii;ncd w r ith t'rance. 
 The emperors treaty with this crown and 
 that or Sv/cden was conciud-.d in the fol-
 
 242 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 7. 
 
 lowing year: and LEWIS the fourteenth 
 K'ing now at liberty to ailill his ally, whilil 
 he had lied up the power-- \\;rh whom he 
 had treated from afilltirur tfu-irs, lie icon, 
 forced the king of DENMARK and the elector 
 ot BR A XDEKBL'RG to rellorc ali they had 
 taken from the Swedes, and to conclude 
 the peace of the north. In all thei'e treaties 
 he gave the law, and he w.is now at the 
 highell point of his grandeur. He con- 
 tmued .ir this point tor leveral years, and in 
 this height!) of his power he prepared thole- 
 alliances ag.;inlt it, under the weight of 
 which he was at laft \sell-n </h opprelVed ; 
 and mirrht have been reduced as Knv as the 
 general inrereil <>fr turoj>e r< quired, it lorr.e 
 of the eaiifes, which v.<.ris'u no\\, had not 
 contimi"d towo:k in In-- lavoi\ a;u. it ins 
 enemies had not prove -i, in tlieir u;rn (it 
 lortnr.r, as inlati.ibie ..^, [ r.l;,c:::y \\^\ ren- 
 dered him. 
 
 Arn.R lie h.v! m.iile j-r.iee with all the 
 powers with whom he h.id hrcn in war, he 
 con"..MH'd to\i-\ butii S[ .. :i aiu; :!;e em- 
 niic, rii'.d i" c.\'!rnd ills (O.'HjUii in tllC 
 
 J^,v/ C ' vl n t!.'- K ':.;", both 
 
 |,v t 1 . I i ' i> Uvl the 
 
 , ! ' I I ' .i.i'v h, \\ }}<".'
 
 Let./, and State of EUROPE. 
 
 and judges all at once. Upon the decisions 
 of theie tribunals, he fcized into his own 
 hands under the notion of dependencies 
 and LUC pretence of reunions, whatever 
 towns or dillrifts vf country tempted his 
 ambition, or luiied his conveniency : and 
 a-Med, by thefe and by other means, in the 
 nil ilt or peace, more territories to thole 
 the late treaties had yielded to him, than 
 lie could have got by continuing the war. 
 He acted ;:tter\vards, in the fupport of all 
 this, without any bounds or limits. His 
 gloiy was a reaibn for attacking Holland 
 in one thouiand fix hundred and leventy 
 two, and his conveniency a reafon for many 
 of the attacks he m uie on others afterwards. 
 He took Luxem!'-!'^; by force: he flole 
 Straiburg , hebougnt Callul : and, whilit he 
 waited the opportunity of acquiring to his 
 family the crown of Spain, he was not 
 without thoughts nor hopes perhaps, of 
 bringing into it the imperial crown like- 
 wile. Some of the cruelties he exercifed 
 in the empire may be afcribed to his difap- 
 pointrucnt in this view : I lay ibme of them, 
 becaule in the war rhat ended by the treaty 
 of Nimeohen, * had already exercifed 
 many, i ho thr ! r cncK writers endeavour 
 to Hide over the;;., co palliate them, and to 
 impute them ticula-ly to the 
 Q
 
 ^44 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 7. 
 
 that were in their fervice, tor even this one 
 of rh-ir writers has the front to advance : 
 yet ihelc Ciuehies unheard ot among ci- 
 vilized nations, mull be granted to have 
 been ordered by the counieN, and executed 
 by the arms of France, in the IVilatinatc, 
 and in o:her parts. 
 
 IF IAWIS the fourteenth c; .:\\ !:ave con- 
 tented himlclf with the acquiiitions that 
 were confirmed to him by the treaties of 
 one thouland fix hundred and leventy 
 chiht, and one thousand fix hundred and 
 leventy nine, and w;;'i t' . authority nnJ 
 reputation which he ; .: -, it is plain 
 
 that he would have ', alli.uiccs 
 
 that were atierwar,:-- I >rn.ed . i: .ll him -, 
 anil thai he mu'jit have :s credit 
 
 am<>n;..ill the pniues <>: /, v. here 
 
 he had o:;:- tan.ily- . rn.-.r: :.'.;'c 
 
 ot i.; ;[')'. t r : f eitcior 
 
 ;.s Ion to 
 . i w lie re 
 nn, ar.d 
 ue i liter - 
 ot !!'.:> a-; 
 : not o;iiy 
 
 >')\\fi' Ul 
 
 i ivc . \s ith all 
 
 ;:,..M li of the 
 
 k:n^ 
 
 1'al.itme, 
 
 and an t 
 
 the lilief 
 
 i.t the c), , 
 
 Sweden N 
 
 *.a^ el'*!riy 
 
 wh.cre if/ 
 
 l.ur.e pii 
 
 etl wo i 
 
 i liave 1 
 
 clofelv. 
 
 H- n!|'h: 
 
 the 1:11 
 
 .; ..1, luii
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 245 
 
 king of Si- A IN, or ibme other object of great 
 ambition, had determine;! him to net an- 
 other part. But, in'h'uvt of this, he con- 
 tinued to vex and provoke all thole who 
 were, unhappily for them, his neighbours, 
 and that, in many inllances, for trifles. An 
 example of this kind occurs to me. On 
 the death of the duke of Dux FONTS, he 
 feized that little inconfulerable dutchy, 
 without any regard to the indifputable right 
 of the kin:: oi hwi-:!)i;N, to tiie krvices that 
 crown had rendered him, or to the want he 
 might have of that alliance hereafter. The 
 conlequence was, that Sweden entered, with 
 the emperor, the king of SPAIX, the elector 
 of Bavaria, and the States General, into 
 the alliance of guaranty, as it was called, 
 about the year one tlioufand fix hundred 
 and eighty tinee, and. into the famous 
 league of Aidourg, in one thoufand fix 
 h;;;,.;;e,; and c; i\r-\ fix. 
 
 SINCE I IKU-. muinoned this league, and 
 fince we may : .u: ir.m it a more general 
 aiul a more (\.MIC: oppofnion to France 
 
 than there iuid i beture ; give nie leavcj 
 
 to reeal io: i'j refleclions that have 
 
 preiciucd * i t'".> nv/ mind, in C.T.- 
 
 fidering W'K:. ve r j, and. v. hat I have 
 
 he..rd ixi. t ' L < .;. /.eevrv.j-.a; iho p^lL.^es of 
 
 that
 
 246 ASketchoftheHi^bRY Let. 7. 
 
 lha: time. They will be of ufe to form 
 our judgment concerning later paffa^cs. 
 If the king of FkASTF bf.-ame an object of 
 tvcriion on account of any invafiuns he 
 made, any deviations from public faith, any 
 barbarities cxercilcd where his arms pre- 
 vailcu, or the perfccution of his proteltant 
 i'ubjccts , the emperor delerved to be Inch 
 an object, at Ic.nt as much ;;.s he, on the 
 fa r,e accounts. 1 he emperor was Ib too, 
 but with this difference rel itively to the 
 poii'iral fyfbem of the weft : the Auftnan 
 ambnion and bigotry exerted themlelvcs in 
 diftaru couninc?, whole intcrells were not 
 confidercd as a part of this fvilcrn; for, 
 otherwile there \\wuld '-.rt.i- A:, much 
 
 ie.il' n for afliftiivj, the \- ^: \\ n^ary 
 
 <;f Traniylvania ,^,iji:it ? J .' .-.rxror, 
 
 /re h..:d bei-n toinv :iy J'c ajniti.'-r tiic 
 
 lc- <>t the 'even urihi \! 
 
 , or a. ihr. re liavc U, , lati i tor 
 
 an i 1) //J'.ry ',-1 ] ,1 \vi-. V.TIC 
 
 (::!<! >n r'.r L"\v ( <"..;it:i >- 'v: the 
 
 K K n-\ in Italy, ;'.:.,! ::i ! i . t,, n t!,-- very 
 
 r : .i ; ; ,f rh ; /. jyil'/.T., i: ! , ar.-l 
 
 v. ,; l i !, c'' 1 !'. rhr.r foi.i ; r ,! :.. ;.;,^v< rt :r 
 
 i') : n . 'I }>( ] r/. t ; < \ ,\i: 
 
 f'r; .1, t'-.ir I..-.J !)c; n r k , . ),,-,', w.is 
 
 J* ue'l no ! i.f ( r : v { ;; <.- }, , : <,
 
 Let. 7. nnd State of EUROPE. 247 
 
 Bourbon, by having been feared too late, 
 was now grown terrible. The emperor was 
 Ib intent on the eftablifhment of his ablb- 
 lute power in Hungary, that he cxpofcd 
 the empire doubly to defolation and ruin 
 for the lake of it. He left the frontier al- 
 mc'.l quite drfencelcls on the fide of the 
 Rhine, againit tiie inroads and ravages of 
 France : and by mewing no mercy to the 
 Hungarians, nor keeping any faith with 
 them, he forced that miierable people into 
 alliances with theTuik, who invaded the 
 empire and befieged Vienna. Even this 
 event had no efiect upon him. Your lord- 
 Jliip will iind, that SOBIESKI king of Po- 
 land, who had forced the Turks to raife the 
 fiege, and had fixed the imperial crown that 
 tottered on his head, could not prevail on 
 him to take thofe meatures by which alone 
 it was pollible to cover the empire, to le- 
 cure the King or' SPAIN', and to reduce that 
 power who w;,s probably one day to difputc 
 with him this prince's luccelTion. TEKELJ 
 and the maleconuents made fuch demands 
 as none but a tyrant coul i reMV, the pre- 
 fervation of their ancu-nt privileges, liberty 
 of conicience, the convocation of a free 
 diet or parliament, and others oi Ms im- 
 portance. All was in vain. The war con- 
 tinued with them, and with the Turk>, 
 Q 4 and
 
 A?kctv-h of tlic HISTORY Lrt.-. 
 
 : nee \. :s lett at liberty to pufh hrr 
 Ci'ici . ii N a! null \\ '.:;;-. ;'.'t opj ofitnni, a- 
 gainlt (i.'rm.inv and the Low Coin,;; ',<'. 
 The diim.b in b th \\.is j> r /car, th.it the 
 States General l..w r.o oth.er expedient for 
 ftopp.n:: the { rogreb or riic French arrr. r , 
 tlun a, ctlj'.r.ion ot h(jltiliues, or a truce or' 
 twenty year> ; \vlii-h ihcy nepociatcd, and 
 vh;c!i was a-.-ccj-ted by the emperor and. t!ic 
 Ici.'i^, * t">p,\i\, on the tcrnr. thai Li wis (h.c 
 io-jrtCfniii t.'.oi :;!it lit to ('tier. L5v th.efo 
 r^riv.s he wa.^ to iv:iu:ri in mil and. quiet 
 }''' 'lion (Jt uil he h..d acquired iince the 
 jt.rsor.e ihoiii'and (i\ hi:nii:cd and fevcnty 
 ni.hr, .'.:v.! ore tl:'ail'.:iui lix hundreil and 
 l-\e;.ty r,,!ie -, air^o:.. 1 ; \vhuh acqtniitions 
 t'.- ; I.':\-nhi;i ..rui that ot Sualburg 
 -.!. 'J'ii- lor.diti MI> of' 
 ;.; tn c f v. TI- , .: :\ ..r.L.^'eov;^ to Fr.ir,- , 
 
 L...n a lie J;.:::;vi t . . ;-i t.eaie i;. on ti.t: 
 
 i;.: i. r.'.-r ::.t- ir*'-:it:'-n ot tiie other con- 
 t: .".;r:; | ; err. 'J he i:;i; eii.il anvs h.'.d 
 I :'. v. :y ai^C( f-:'"i a;' .inil t !;..- 1'i.iks. 
 '1 h:' !r,.'fti , ;is v. ji a. tii;- iPu,M., r !'..: 
 i >!', : i ; M i: in i!:e <, ^; ;ti'.:::i am : , 
 
 t''.;i ot co;uli.dif'' ; e.: en tl..,; i; ' :
 
 Let. 7. and Stateof EUROPE. 249 
 
 the empi'c, anil the kinp; of SPAIN would 
 have be i n in ;i much better poltuie to trc.it 
 with Fraiue. \Yith th.-le view;, that were 
 wile .nnl jult, the le.i'>ue ui All (burg W<K 
 m;uic between the c-mperor, the k>ngs of 
 SPAIN and Sv.'i.DLN a < princes of the empire, 
 and the other circles and princes. 'I his 
 league was purely defend ve. An cxprcls 
 article declared it to be lo : and as it had 
 no other regard, it was not only conform- 
 able to the laws and conliitutions of the 
 empire, and to the practice of all nations, 
 bur. even to the terms of the act ot truce lo 
 lately concluded. 1 his pretence therefore 
 for breaking the truce, leizin-j; the electorate 
 or' Column, invading the Palatinate, be- 
 
 O * O * 
 
 iieging Philtpfburg, and carrying unex- 
 pected and undeclared war into the empire, 
 could nor be Supported : nor is ic poilible 
 to read the reafons publifhed by France at 
 t!iis tiiVie, and drawn from her fears of the 
 im; C! ,.d jxiwcr, without laughter. As 
 litiie jTctcnce v.;'.s there to complain, that 
 the emperor rcfuled to convert at once the 
 truce into a definitive treaty ; fince, if he 
 had. done io, lie would have confirmed in a 
 lu'vp, and wit!) out any (.::lcu!ii:;n, all the 
 ariiiirary decrees of thofe chambers, or 
 courts, fli.-t ! Vance had creeled to cove; 
 her ulurpanons i and would have given up 
 
 al-
 
 250 A Sketch of the II i STORY Let. 7. 
 
 alnioft a fixth part of the provinces or the 
 empire, that r ranee one way or other lud 
 pofleficd hcrfeif of. 1 lie j n tcnf^ns of the 
 Dmchcfs oiORLtANs on the Uiccdfion of her 
 father, and her brother, which \scre tiif- 
 putcci by the thm elector Pai.'.tinc, and were 
 to be determined bv the laws ana cullonvs 
 of the ^mpire, aiiurdcd as iuile pretence tor 
 beginning this war, as any 01 ii,c tuimer 
 allegations. '1 he e.vJufiojj or the carJnul 
 of i'URSTEKBERfi, who had been c let led to 
 the archbifliopric of Colo^ri, was capable 
 or bcm: a/frravaicd : but even in this tale 
 
 ^ * L ; O , 
 
 his molt chnftian majcily oppoled his judg- 
 ment and his authority a^au.ft the judg- 
 ment and authority of that holy father, 
 whole cldelt fon he was proud to be calleil. 
 In fhort, the true re a fon why Liwis the 
 iuurtcrncli lx:gan that cruel w.:r with the 
 empire, two years after he luu; concluded 
 a ceflation of hoililitics for twenty, was this : 
 he relolvcd to keep what hf had got , and 
 thcrctore fie refolvetl t..>cnru.ira:'c the Turks 
 to coiuinuc t!u' w-.r 1 ir did this c!i< ctu iliy, 
 by invading ( ..t r';e ve;y inflant 
 
 wlicn tlie Sultan was lump lo> peace. Not* 
 wnhilandmg this the 'I\, UN were in treaty 
 a^ain the following year : and i;'>od p-oht y 
 flioui'i h.'.ve obliged tlie e;nperor, h tec he 
 cuuld nut hope, to curry o.i tin^ war aiui th.it
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 251 
 
 againft France, at the fame time, with vi- 
 gor and effect, to conclude a peace with 
 the lead dangerous enemy of the two. The 
 decifion of this difpute with France could 
 not be deferred, his ddigns againft the 
 Hungarians were in part accomplimsd, for 
 his fon was declared king, and the fettle- 
 nient ot that crown in his family was made; 
 and the reltof thefe, as well as thofe that he 
 formed againft the Turks, might be de- 
 ferred. But the councils of Vienna judg- 
 ed differently, and infilled even at this cri- 
 tical moment on the mod exorbitant terms; 
 on fome of fuch a nature, that the Turks 
 mewed more humanity and a better fcnfe 
 of religion in refufing, than they in alking 
 them. Thus the war went on in Hungary, 
 and proved a conftant diveriion in favor 
 of France, during the whole courfe of that 
 which LEWIS the fourteenth began at this 
 time: tor the treaty ot Carlowitz was po- 
 ilcrior to [hat oi Ryiwic. The empire, 
 h>pain, England, and Holland engaged in 
 the war with France and on them the em- 
 peror left the burden of it. In the fhort 
 w.:r of one thoufand fix hundred r.nd fixty 
 ic\cn, lie was not lo much as a party, nnd 
 in.urad of aiTHVnvj; tlie kmn; of S > \i\ r , wr.ich, 
 it mult be owncJ. % he was in iv> ! con- 
 dirion of doing, he bargained toi- ^.,i.iin<T 
 
 that
 
 252 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Lift. 7. 
 
 that print e\ luce. ffi .:, as I have obfcrvcd 
 above. In the war or one thoufand fix 
 hundred and icvcnty tv. o j;e made fo.r.e 
 feeble efforts. In tins ot one thoufand fix 
 hunarcd and e!,:h:y ei^ht lie did iliii Ids : 
 and in the war winch broke out r.t tlie be- 
 ginning ot the } iclciu century he did no- 
 thing, at iealt alter the tirit campaign in 
 Italy, and ancr the enr-j^rments th.it Ki\c- 
 l.md and lioii..;ul tJ.-k b\ tiie ^:a:-.J al- 
 liance. In a word, ir-j;n tii- inr.e tii.ir .in 
 oppolition to l-ian^c became ;i foniiiion 
 cuule in I f urope, t!:c houle or Aultria h. ; s 
 been a clop; upon it in many tnilances, and 
 ot confidcrable afTiflancc to it 1:1 none. 
 The accdTion ut I'.r3::ir.:id to tins fauli-, 
 which was b;\>ijf;!it about bv tin- revolution 
 of one thoufand fix hundred and eighty 
 fight, mi^ht have made amends, and more 
 than ,iiii: nds, one w(;u!d tn;r.k, lor rhi^ de- 
 fect, aiul h..ve t!',:(.v. n h:per:onty (A power 
 r.; 1 .;! of Jiiccefs c;n the i: e < i t!:c cunh\!e- 
 r./t-, \\uii v,ii''m ii'.e took par: au.'.:::!t: 
 J-ra;ice. Th: 1 , i lay, ir.i::lu be i"\;;:ir.ed, 
 wit (-.out over-rating the }u,W(. r c.i l-.n; l.;;i.', 
 cr i;r iervaluinp; tii.it ol 1 :a:i.e; aiul ir v\...>. 
 ima:':n'cl at th.;! tuiu-. I Io\v it prmtd 
 o[/(iv-.(e in the event; h >v. i r.ince c.in.i 
 t:ii,r!tpi!ai:t our or the war tii.:t ended ' v 
 ti.c treaty ol K\ Iwic, .n:d ti.o iP.c ." \ -j v.p 
 
 u.
 
 Let. 7. and State of EUROPE. 255 
 
 a great deal, yet prdervtrd the greateft and 
 the bell pan. ot her conquells and acquifi- 
 tions made lince the treaties of Weftphaiia, 
 and the l\ reneVs ; how flie acquired, by the 
 {.nit or' Sp.iin, thai whole monarchy for one 
 or" her piinces, tho ihc had no re .don to ex- 
 pect the le.ift part of it without a war at 
 one time, nor the great lot of it even by a 
 \v;ir at any time; in fhort, how (he wound 
 up advarua^eoufly the ambitious fyftem flic 
 had been lirty years in weaving; how fhe 
 concluded a war, in which fhe was defeated 
 on every fide, and wholly exhaulted, with 
 little diminution of the provinces and bar- 
 riers acquired to France, and with the quiet 
 poiTefiion of Spain and the Indies to a prince 
 of the houle of Bourbon : all this, my lord> 
 will be the fubject of your refearches, when 
 you come down to the latter part of the lait 
 period ot modern hiftory. 
 
 LET-
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 The fume fubjeft continued from the 
 year one thouiand fix hundred and 
 eighty-eight. 
 
 YOUR lordfhip will find, that the ob- 
 jefts propofed by the alliance of one 
 thoufand fix hundred and eighty nine between 
 the emperor and the States, to which Eng- 
 land acceded, and which was the founda- 
 tion of the whole confederacy then formed, 
 were no Ids than to reitore all things to the 
 terms of the Weitphalian and Pyrenean 
 treaties, by the war -, and to preferve them 
 in that itate, after the war, by a defenfive 
 alliance and guaranty of the fame confe- 
 derate powers againft France. The parti- 
 cular as well as general meaning of this en- 
 gagement was plain enough : and if it had 
 not been fo, the ienie of it would have 
 been fufticiently determined, by that fepa- 
 rate article, in which Lngiand and Hol- 
 land obliged themfclves to afuil the " houfe 
 
 of
 
 256 A Skckh of the- If i STOKY Let. 3. 
 
 " of A -J. ':::.-., :;i :.:k.ir>; .in,i kcepbr [ c.i- 
 ** Idit ;:i or il.c .Spaniih ir<on.<rc!iy, wiicn- 
 " ever rl,c (\-.K- flvniKl h.ipj en <[ the iK.uli 
 11 ot'CHM'i.is tiic loo:.t!, v. ithout bv. h:l 
 41 inj.rs." 'I i; 1 ^ c-. 1 : -,: . ;ii^n: \\jj double, 
 .-.:!. 1 rherd'V ;v:..: : \v ro ihc \\l\olc jviliiii..'.! 
 ly^'"ii of I'vi'ojx .i:i\c .ilici'icu hy tl.c 
 
 JK/.VlT .1!,J J'. .'/:. i.'M's 'J 1' 1 .:!,'/;. lliiliCl'- 
 
 (u L'.-J - j l-'r 1 :.: i '.>. n ..lone 
 
 v v- .. !) imh.'p|'!!y coiiihimeJ, lh.it 
 r '.' e>;{ e;iec Ihc i iv re. '.'.eel 
 It r % ..: - u (.'.:;:" l; - in\ s .uui .;.!;es, 
 
 1,,'Hi.^i.t '...it ii.jv i',, ! ci.uir I) i,])on every 
 
 I- ii i , v. ,'. v. e: ; :; .'. ::i 
 
 ^i.i.,.1 w.is rrvier i'M!i ever, bv t!-e <n - l- 
 r..;"-> i!..i: } ;.''- v, .i;i.! t:v 
 
 ii.;. :.. tx , jl:. ii.iv*. i .:: , i: ( : ; ! \ t '.: l;t:l" 
 n '.Hi li ' v. n t-> } '..bii' i . :i;i, ;i:;it 
 
 bv L.C .'.i: . i)l ..'ii:.-:.:y llic h.ui .liiunx^l 
 tv.cp'v .e.irs iu.^(i.;t:: lo \v.is liu- J;.;iit 
 a;-..:::. : . i.cr r.ii.e .; t > .111 },: I/.T {,:. !;, a.al 
 ti.c :..;..;,. I rr.i;.'. i;;.r !'..:' jov.\r. or .. 
 
 ' i^ 
 
 i ; ;: ' ci
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 257 
 
 princes and ftatcs who had neglected or 
 favored the growth of this power, which 
 all of them had done in their turns, faw 
 their error; law the neceflity of repairing 
 it, and law that unlefs they could check 
 the power of France, by uniting a power 
 fuperior to hcr's, it would be impofTible 
 to hinder her from luccceding in her great 
 tlefigns on the Spanifh fuccellion. The 
 court of England had fubmitted, not many 
 years before, to abet her uiurpatioris, and 
 the king of England had (looped to be her 
 pcnfioner. But the crime was not na- 
 tional. Oa the contrary, the nation had 
 cried out loudly againll it, even whilft it 
 was committing : and as foon as ever the 
 abdication of king JAMES, and the eleva- 
 tion of the prince of ORANGE to the throne 
 of England happened, the nation engaged 
 with all imaginable zeal in the common 
 
 o 
 
 caufe of Europe, to reduce the exorbitant 
 power of France, to prevent her future 
 and to revenge her pail attempts i for 
 even a Ipirit of revenge prevailed, and 
 the war was a war of anger as well as 
 of i mere it. 
 
 UNHAPPILY this zeal was neither well 
 
 conducted, nor well leconded. It was zeal 
 
 v.T.h-jut iiiccch in ti:" riric of the two wars 
 
 K that
 
 2 5$ A Sketch of the 1 1 IST DRY Let. 3. 
 
 lhat loll'.nved the year one thoulanti fix luin- 
 (ircu and eii-his - e:i:ht ; and zeal with- 
 out knowledge, in b.)tii 01" them. I enter 
 into no detail concerning tiic events or thelc 
 two war*-. I h;> ouiy I oblcrvc on the 
 fir it or (lit ;n, [hat the tre.Uk 1 > or i\)l\si<_ 
 wtrc l.'.r from anhsenn^ t!ie ends pro- 
 pokd and the en^aL r e:i:e;irs tAe;i by the 
 i>i'(\ sjr;.n : ail.ar^e. i he p'nv r of l-'rance, 
 with rclpea to extent oi lionnnion^ and 
 l::e:.;fh of barrier, was jv.;t reduced to the 
 tcrn'.N or the Pyrcnean treaty, i-,o not :o 
 tl.oic (A the tie;:;v ot Nui't{?hen. J .oiT.iin 
 ". .;s reT'jred inde*.ii with ver\ u>nfiderable 
 .rlcrvc, .:iid die places t.iken or ulurp.ed 
 ' -\ the other iiue oi the i\h:::e : bur thru 
 S:r-lln;n; \vas yiei.led r r .,[-1 .u.i, !v to 
 
 1 lie i');Kv.liuini i' Sp.i;:j 'Ae:r j-;\-.ii, NUL 
 i were the i f,.u: ...;; ..i ,( t K eiu'ruai ii- 
 tvents Ml. 1 . ..r in 1 I.!!:c--, li::. r ihe 
 
 rrearv ' . ' . !;) : .: i !; : [ !i i] .it 
 k 1 .. ('. '
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 259 
 of the allies and the ill (late of the confede- 
 racy, furpriied the generality of mankind, 
 who had nut been accuitomed to Ib much 
 moderation and gencrofity on the part of 
 this prince. But the pretenfions of the 
 houle ot Bourbon on the Spanilh iuccel- 
 lion remained the lame. Nothing had 
 been done ro weaken them , nothing was 
 prepared to oppoie them : and the opening 
 of tiiis fucceifion was vitibly at hand : for 
 CHARLES the lecond had been in imme- 
 diate clanger of dying about this time- His 
 tit-nth could not be a remote event : and 
 all the good queen's endeavours to be got 
 with child h.id proved ineffectual. The 
 league dilTblved, all the forces of the con- 
 federates dilperied, and many difbanded i 
 i/rance continuing armed, her rorccs by 
 lea and land increaied and held in readi- 
 nefs to act on all (ides, it was plain that 
 the confederates had failed in the fir (I ob- 
 ject or the grand alliance, that of reducing 
 the po-.vcr ot France i by lliccceding in 
 which alone they could have been able to 
 keep the lecoiui engagement, t.h.u of le- 
 curir.^; the fuccefTion of Spain to the houfe 
 ui" Auitna. 
 
 Ari"_:i this peaces what remaine.i ro \K 
 
 J.wi.w ': in tiie \vi;oie nature of thi;i ; r~ rhi.,e 
 
 R 2 remained
 
 260 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let.?. 
 
 remained but three. To abandon all care 
 of the Spanilh lucccffion was one-, to com- 
 pound with France upon this fucccflion 
 was another-, and to prepare, like her, 
 during the interval of peace, to make an 
 advantageous war whenever CHAKLIS the 
 fccor.d fhould die, was a third. Now 
 the firft of thefc was to leave Spain, and, 
 in leaving Spain, to leave .ill luiropc in 
 Jome fort at the mercy ot France -, fince 
 whatever dilpolition the Spaniards mould 
 n.ake cf tiieir crown, they were quite un- 
 able to fupport it a^amit France ; fince 
 the emperor could do little without his al- 
 liance-, and finceBavaria, the third pretender, 
 could do Hill lels, and might find, in luch 
 a cale, his account perhaps better in treat- 
 ing with the houfe ot Bourbon tlun with 
 ;!.;ir of Aulhia. More nctds not be iait! 
 (:-. this l'.e.d , IH.L on the other two, winch 
 I lli. ill o/nlidtr tof'.etlur, iever.il facts arc- 
 pro, per to be mentioned, and levcral re- 
 flections nccciV:'.ry to be ma/.e. 
 
 \V t ri.'; ht li.ivc counter -worked, no 
 
 i\t,;;\ : ;n (!;"ir ov. :i mctlioiis or j^oliv-y, the 
 
 (<n.-u <j I'r'.fuc, who made- pe.u e to 
 
 i: . : j.. k . f >!it'-.iei acv, .1'".*! ' T i c-.it I'o.r.ccl- 
 
 l;i;;,, ''l V(TV ll.lpU'luVis i'l'lUTol il . , !i) 
 
 fi| ; v.e mi !.l li.r.c v..:,u\;.
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 261 
 
 like them, that is in arms, the death of 
 CHARLES the lecond, and have fortified in 
 the mean time the difpofitions of the 'king, 
 the court, and people of Spain, again ft the 
 preteniions ot France : we might have 
 made the peace, which was made iome 
 time after that, between the emperor and 
 the Turks, and have obliged the former at 
 any rate to have fecured the peace of Hun- 
 gary, and to have prepared, by thefe and 
 other expedients, for the war that would 
 inevitably break out on the death of the 
 king of SPAIN. 
 
 BUT all ftich mcafures were rendered im- 
 practicable, by the emperor chiefly. Ex- 
 perience had (hewn, that the powers who 
 engaged in alliance with him mult ex peel: 
 to take the whole burden of his caule upon 
 themfelves; and that Hungary would main- 
 tain a perpetual divcrlion in favor of 
 .France, fmce he could not retblve 10 lighten 
 
 * O 
 
 the tyrannical yoke he had eltablilhed in 
 that country and in Tranfilvania, nor his 
 minilters to part with the imrncnfe confii- 
 cations they had appropriated to themfelves. 
 Palb experience (hewed this : and the ex- 
 perience that followed confirmed it very fa- 
 tally. But further-, there was not only 
 .little affillance to be expected from him by 
 R 2 thole
 
 262 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let.?, 
 
 thofe who fnouKi engage in hi; quarrel : lie 
 d'.d them hurt ot another kind, ami de- 
 prived them or many advent apes by lalie. 
 mealurcs of policy and cr.fkihul ne^on.i- 
 tions. \Vlnlii flic- death ot C n A R i. F. s the 
 Ice on d was expected a lav 11 daily, the court 
 <! Vienna Icemtd 10 have tort" A the court 
 of Madrid, and all the preteniions on that 
 crown. When the c^u:it n'HA- P ACM was 
 Tent thither, the imperial councils d;d lome- 
 thm<j, worie. The kin^ o! SPAIN \v.i- iea- 
 cy to decLire tlic arcluluke CHAHLIS his 
 lutceflor , he was d<i:rnu; to have tfv.s 
 voun.r pn.'ce ler.t into ^pam : tin- bent (jf 
 the people \v.:.s ir; !.i\'"r ut Aullru), or it 
 had K-< a lo, ;uid ir.irlu luve been eaiih" 
 turrud ihe Ian) 1 ' u.iy . ; 7 a;n : at court no 
 cabal w:'.:, yet lornni! 1:1 j.tvT of l>our- 
 l: /:i, ac,d a vcr\ \ve.ik :n:r:^'jv \v:v, (>n toot 
 j;. ;..vor < the cl'\U)r;al prime oJ H \\--\- 
 Pi'.. Not OIMY L fi.\i- i.i s ;rn;ht h,;:\'c- b^en 
 i n i!:e 1j ?.: r .'.cy '.o I'.i'. 1 th<* lia.tiiin:, 
 bur a(ie::r..:n armv :i.::'i:t ir'.ve Inen iliete 
 ro tlfti-nd it ; tor li.c >;;;: ct M;uind m- 
 iilUM on h '.v:;';; (\\elve ir.oul.aul (>\ thrlc 
 iif);)j" , ar.ii, r.;! iier :::;:! iv t t" ii .vi- t!u in oj. 
 leir ! i" - <.;in ibure 'u tl'.e p.:yrm-:U <-r T'UJ'l 
 r. would have- been : o 
 t:.-- >parii.'.r- !, .i: 1 I f < o 
 tt; :!", A'..ili:.in ip'tid* to h. *<
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 263 
 
 had it known that the emperor -dcclinrd the 
 payment of a body of his own troops that 
 were demanded to fecure that monarchy to 
 his fon. '1 hcle propolals were half rcfuled, 
 and halt evaded : and in return to the oi- 
 ter of the crown ol Spain to the archduke, 
 the imperial councils aiked the government 
 of Milan for him. They thought it a point 
 of deep policy to lecure the Italian pro- 
 vinces, and to l<:av\: to England and Hol- 
 land the care of the 1 ow countries, of 
 Spain, and the Indies. By declining theie 
 propolals the hou'c ot Aultna renounced in 
 lomc fort the whole lucreifion : at lead me 
 gave England and Holland reafons, what- 
 ever engagements chcie powers had taken, 
 to rcfuie the harder tall; of putting her in- 
 to potteflion by torce -, when l"he might, 
 and would not, procure to the Engliili and 
 Dutch, and her other allic.-,, tlie eaik j r uik 
 of defending her in this poilcfiion. 
 
 I S.-MU tliJt tlie meaiures mer.rionod above 
 weit icncicred impracticable, by the emj.:e- 
 ror chiefly, bccaule tiicy v-'tre rendered 
 Ji> likewiic by otner circumllanccs at the 
 j./!ie conjuncture. A principal one I fliall 
 ir.cntion, and it lliall be drawn from tlie 
 it. ae ot our own country, and the dilro- 
 jition or our people. Lei us t;;kc t'/is up 
 R .1 tVom
 
 ^64 A Sketch ofthrHrsTORV Let. 8. 
 
 from king WILLIAM'S r.cceflion to our 
 crown. During the whole progfcfs th.it 
 LLWIS the fourteenth made towards fuch 
 exorbitant power, as gave him well ground- 
 ed hopes ot acquiring at l.i(t to his family 
 the Spanifh monarchy, bnghnd had been 
 cither an idle fpcctator of all that pafled 
 on the continent, or a taint and uncertain 
 ally againft France, or a warm and fure 
 ally c<;i her fide, or a partial mediator be- 
 tv.een her and the powers confederated in 
 tlieir common defence. The revolution 
 produced ,-s r/e:it a change in our foreign 
 condc.c, as ;n our domcllic cltablilhment : 
 and ovir nation encased with preat Inirit in 
 
 v_ V. O i 
 
 t'.c war of <,ne ihoufund fix hundred and 
 r![Miry ci (r !u. i$u: then this fpirit was rafh, 
 
 t" 1 - - <. i 
 
 preium[ tuous and ignorant, ill conducted 
 at ho. r : e, and ill feconded abroad : .ill whi.' h 
 h.v^ biv'n totici'fd already. We had wrv <(i 
 no loi'i^ v.-..:s <r.) i\\<- lontinent, nor been 
 >':v liieplv i onccrr.ed in ti\ r e:::;i (cr:f(J-j- 
 r..( :c , fir/.c- tl:c t 1:1 'eenrli and fifteenth 
 cefuu;:c>. 'I lie hiitfiy or I-.!:WAR:> tin 
 ' ; ',ii', i.')V.cve! - , and of the lull twelve or 
 ;";;:-;-n y/ars (>t l\\ \HV r!;r- f:\;h rri; ht have 
 !.!;';.; \\ > i-.r:'e i ('-. r :1 but i.l- ful 
 
 "::[: v .: .t 
 
 M,... ' ::.:; \M M
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 265 
 
 great fums for the profit or' taking a 
 town or the honor of having an emperor 
 in his pay -, and who divided afterwards by 
 treaty the kingdom or France between him- 
 felf and CHARLES the fifth, with fucccfs Ib 
 little aniwerable to fuch an undertaking, 
 that it is hard to believe his imperial and 
 Englifh majcfty were both in earned. If 
 they were lo, they were both the bubbles 
 of their prefumption. But it fcems more 
 likely that HENRY the eighth was bubbled 
 on this occaiion by the great hopes that 
 CHARLES held out to flatter his vanity: as 
 he had been bubbled by his father-in-law 
 FERDINAND, at the beginning of his reign, 
 in the war of Navarre. But thefe reflec- 
 tions were not made, nor had we enough 
 confidercd the example of ELIZABETH, the 
 lalt of our princes who had made any con- 
 fiderable figure abroad, and from whom 
 we might have learned to ace with vigor, 
 bun to ir.Lr.i^e with caution, and always to 
 proportion our afiiltance according to our 
 abilities, and the real neceffities or our al- 
 lies. The frontiers ot France were now 
 lo fortified, her commerce and tier naval 
 force were io encreaicd, her armies were 
 <a<jvv:i fo numerous, her troops \vere lo 
 f.ilcinhned, {>> inured to war, an.i lo ani- 
 natcd b a Ij-t; C'jurie oi lucc'.istul ca:n-
 
 266 ASketchof thcHisTOR v Let. 8, 
 
 paigns, that they who looked on the lirua- 
 tion of Europe could not l.til to iee how dif- 
 ficult the enterprile ot rcdui inu her power 
 was become. Difficult as it was we were 
 obhueci, on every aco-url and. by rcaf'>ns 
 or all kinds, to engage in k : hut then we 
 fhr,uld have engaged \viih more t.. recall, 
 and have conducted ourieivo m the ma- 
 nagement ot n, not witn KU ahutity and 
 Ipirit, bin wiia more order, more oe< ono- 
 my, and a Ivticr application or our efforts. 
 But they -A ho ^oveii.ed were plad t ) en- 
 gage us at any rale : and we entered on 
 this great ichcme oi ..ci:o;i, as out nation 
 is too apt to do, humid, on by the ruhrvj; 
 paflion of the day. I h/.ve bix r. told bv 
 ieveral, wlitt were on tin- ili<-c ot the world 
 at tins time, that the LH i.- r.uiiy or our ^.to- 
 pic believed, ..:u! ueie ent'i u;.'::ed to be- 
 Jicve, the. war c<.uid rn.t iie K-r,.*, it the 
 k:n r r wa. vt'orouHy lup} orte<l : a:.d tlierc 
 is a tr.i:rdrum (;>i-(ii oi .i i^eakrT, ot i!u' 
 houfe ot (ommor^, I think, wht> iiumbiy 
 lirfi.ed J"i!i rii.ijt.liy to tare t;,:> < j j ortuni- 
 ty el reco.'Vvjues iiijj, hu atu u nt liutthy <4 
 /ui!::'.::n. \\ e w. re i< % (;n a s% ;.-. entd JK :u 
 theie {',nudy iln.iiii 1 .. in lever, or e: r ju 
 yt.ir, i') !'i!p:iii"n i,..ii b< en nude- on 
 i'l. :.<e, ' l '.r v..:^ b', ii eil .is :t v.eiv or? 
 
 i v! defeats ; . tiv
 
 }_,et.S. and State of EUR on:. 267 
 
 J_ow Countries, where king WILLIAM laid 
 the principal ilrefs of the war, his fole 
 triumph was the retaking of Namur, that 
 had been taken by the French a few years 
 before. Unluilaimd by luccefs abroad, 
 we arc not to wonder that the Ipirit flagged 
 at home ; nor that the difcon tents of thole 
 who wxre averie to the eftablifhcd govern- 
 ment, uniting with tlie far greater num- 
 ber of thole who diflikcd the atiminiltration, 
 inflamed the general difcontents of the na- 
 tion, opprdlcd with taxes, pillaged by 
 uiurers, plundered at fca, and difappointed 
 at iand. As we run into extremes always, 
 fome would have continued this war at any 
 rate, even at the lame rate : but it was not 
 pollible they mould prevail in fuch a fitu- 
 ation of affairs, and fuch a dilpofition of 
 minds. They who got by the war, and 
 made immenle fortunes by the ncceflities of 
 tiie public, were not lo numerous nor fo 
 ]:r.".:r .1, as t : ,cy have been fmce. The 
 n;o:,e\c.: iMcrici'i: was not yet a rival able to 
 tope with the landed inteirit, either in the 
 nation or in parliament. The great corpora- 
 tions tliat had been erected more to lerve the 
 turn <4 parry, than tor a,i\ real national ufe, 
 aimed indeed even then at tiic ilrenoth and 
 
 D 
 
 intit:e;:ce which they have iince acquired in 
 
 rhc 1^0!lla:ure; but they h.ui not made the 
 ^ame proji-ci.-> by [-roi:iou;u na:ic;ul corrup- 
 tion.
 
 263 A Sketch of the Hi? TORY Let. 8. 
 
 tion, as they and the court have made finer. 
 In fhort, the other extreme prevailed. The 
 generality of people grew as fond of getting 
 out of the war, as they had been of entering 
 into it: and thus far perhaps, confidering 
 how it had been conducted, they were not 
 much to be blamed. But this was not all -, 
 for when king WILLIAM had made the 
 peace, our martial fpirit became at once 
 io pacific, that we leemed refolved to med- 
 dle no more in the affairs ot the continent, 
 5t lea ft to employ our arms no more in the 
 quarrels that might arife there : and ac- 
 cordingly we reduced our troops in England 
 to icvcn thouland men. 
 
 I HAVE fometimes conf.dered^ in re Met- 
 ing on thrfe pafTagcs, v^h.'.r I fhev:ld have 
 done, it I had f.t in pari;.:mcru at th.it 
 time ; and have been forced to o\\n mvtclf, 
 ::: it I fh >uld have voted for diftunding the 
 armv then, as I vorcrd in tt.e tollowin< lr 
 
 O 
 
 parliament for ccnfuring the parrtion-trca- 
 iie>. I an: forced to ov. n tins, ixcaule I 
 remember how imperfect mv notions were 
 ot the lituaiion of 1 .urr>[)c IP. rh.it extraor- 
 dinarv crifis, and 'mw n:;:c ?i I l.r.v the true 
 !n f trtit 01 try o'.vr: cojntrv in an halt 1'^hr. 
 Bui, ir.y !(>:\'. It>\\n K Witii iomc Ih.inir -, 
 b'T.iVilc in truih ;.othin<^ tuni.i !>c more ,\h- 
 ;'.""d tii^:i th'j .'j".(i'.r'i \\e ;i;id. V/;M: ' 
 
 Lc^.uitv
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 269 
 
 becaufe we had not reduced the power of 
 France by the war, nor excluded the houfe 
 of Bourbon from theSpanifh fuccefiion, nor 
 compounded with her upon it by the peace-, 
 and bccaufe the houfe of Auftria had not 
 helped herlclf, nor put it into our power to 
 help her with more advantage and better 
 profped: of fucccfs were we to leave that 
 whole lucceflion open to the invafions of 
 France, and to fuffer even the contingency 
 to fublill, of feeing thofe monarchies 
 united ? What ! bfcaule it was become ex- 
 travagant, after the trials fo lately made^ 
 to think ourfelves any longer engaged by 
 treaty, or obliged by good policy, to put the 
 houfe of Auitria in pofifefiion of the whole 
 Spanifh monarchy, and to defend her in 
 this polloflion by force of arms, were we 
 to leave the whole at the mercy of France ? 
 If we were not to do fo, if we were not to 
 do one of the three things that I laid above 
 
 O 
 
 remained to be done, and if the emperor 
 put it out of our po\ver to do another of 
 them with advantage-, were we to put it 
 ftill more out of our power, and to wait un- 
 armed for the death of the king of SPAIN ? 
 In rine, if we had not the profpect of difput- 
 ing with France, fo fucceisfully as we might 
 have had it, tiie Spanifh fucceflion, when- 
 ever k mould be open-, were \ve not only 
 
 to
 
 270 A Sketch of the Hi & r oft Y i^c.o- 
 
 to flicw by dilarminjz, that we would noi 
 liilpuce n at aii, but to ccnu:re iikewiie the 
 lecond or the three things mentioned above, 
 ami whuh kin;-, WILLIAM put in practice, 
 the compounding wirh 1'r.iiue, to prevent 
 if j'Oliibie a v>ai, in whuh we were averie 
 to cn^a^ : 
 
 w^ wJ 
 
 Ai. LOV, ir-e ro pulh riu-ie ic il :c: \~ us >i 
 littl'j Hiiih-T, a;ut to obiiTve t<> \uu; K.ui- 
 llup, ti"..u it the propoial or K-n..ir,j< the 
 arv i.Juk--.- inio Spain had been acirped )n 
 lime by tlie imperial court, aiui taken cfiett 
 a;ul become a mcaluie ol tile conie.ie;.icy, 
 that war mtieeJ would iiave been pro: railed ; 
 but l-'raru-e could not have !u:: k !erei! the 
 j>all'ai/e or this j-rince a.:d h^ Liei !ii..;; Jorees : 
 and our iieet wouKl have IK en l^ittr e:n 
 ployed in elt-'omivj- th'in, aini in cow; ,r..; 
 tiie coails ot Sji.iin ;:iui or tlie dominions ui 
 rh.it i rown bo:h in I'.'.iroj'e a::.! in Amcnca, 
 than it was in lo ir.ar.y u!;;iu\.n::;i; e.\;xv..- 
 t;on:> trom the !\:::le i>: 1 ,.i 1 1- ,.: to t lie 
 ci.d or the \\..r. J raiuc i:\u\.i \voi.id 
 have made lier uttr.oll etior:-, ID h..ve had 
 latisuc.i;on on h- r pretcniions, as ill founded 
 us they were. M:c \vuuld iiave eik'.ed tii..r 
 \var, as we !;;<'. in ih-r iu :;:, v. ::tn we de- 
 manded a rc\uon.ii)K- l.i:: ,!.;*::;. in lor the em- 
 feror: and ti.-j I ii.:r.l; :!i.:t :i:c alliej \v;n'l'
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 271 
 
 have h;ul, in very many refpedts, more ad- 
 vantages in defending Spain, than in attack- 
 ing k ranee ; yet, upon a luppotition that 
 the defence would have been as ill con- 
 ducted as die attack was, and that by con- 
 iequence, whether CHARLES the fecond had 
 lived to the conclufion of this war, or had 
 ciicd before it, the war mutt have ended in 
 lomc partition or other; this partition 
 would have been made by the 'Spaniards 
 themtelves. They had been forced to 
 compound with France on her former 
 preten lions, ami they mutt and they would 
 have compouinled on thcie, with an Au- 
 fhian prince on the throne, jutl as they 
 compounded, and probably much better 
 than tiiey compounded, on the pretenfions 
 we fupported a^ainli them, when they had 
 a prince of Bourbon on their throne. France 
 could not have diilreiFed the Spaniards, nor 
 have over-run their monarchy, if they had 
 been united ; and they would have been 
 united in this ca'e, and fupported by the 
 whole conieueracy : as we diltreilcd both 
 i-'rance and them, over-run their monarchy 
 in one hemiiphere, and might have done 
 Jo in both, \vnen they were ditunited, and 
 Hippo: ccci by France alone. France would 
 r.oc have acted, in Inch negociations, the 
 JiJK.uloUi pare which the emperor acted in
 
 272 A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.S. 
 
 thole that led to the peace ot' Utrecht, nor 
 have made her bargain worlc by neglecting 
 to make it in time. But the war ending as 
 it did, tho I cannot fee how king WILLIAM 
 could avoid leaving the crown ot Spain and 
 thru entire monarchy at the diluetion of 
 I,i w i s the t'ourrcer.ih. ctherwilc than by 
 compounding to prevent a new war he 
 was in no tort prepaid to make-, yet it is 
 undeniable, that, by con ten: ing to a par- 
 tition or tiicir monarchy, he t::;j\v the Spa- 
 niards into the arms ct France. The iirll 
 partition might liave taken place, p/:rhaps, 
 it the electoral prince or BAVARIA had l:\cd, 
 whom the French and Spaniards too would 
 have leen much more willingly than the 
 archduke on the throne or Spain. I- or 
 amor.g all the parties into which lii.it court 
 was divided in one thoulaml iix luindred 
 and ninety e:::h:, when tins tir.it y was made, 
 that of Aultna w;:s .',ro\vn the we.ik'-il, by 
 the dilgult taken at .t(?erm.i:i Cjvieen, and 
 at the rapacity nf.d :;! /ler^'e o! i.. i t.ivor 
 itcs. TheFieii.ii wc:e Icokrd i:p*H) with 
 clteem and kindnels .it \Iad;;d- f but the 
 Germans were become, or growing to be, 
 objeas ot contcmj-t to the u.iniiirj.s, and (Jl 
 avcrfion to the pcoj le. 1 i,e electoral prince 
 died in one tiioul.iiid lix lnnu:ivd ar.d ninety 
 nmc. The liar ui Ai.iln.i, io i.u..l to all
 
 Let.8. and State of EUROPE, 273 
 
 thofe who were obftacles to the ambition of 
 th it houle, prevailed j as the elector ex- 
 prefied himidf in the rirft pangs of his 
 grief. The ihte of things changed very 
 much by his death. The archduke was 
 to have Spain and the Indies, according to 
 a fecond partition : and the Spaniards, who 
 had exprelled great rcfentment at the firil, 
 were pumed beyond their bearing by this. 
 They loon appeared to be fo ; for the fe- 
 cond treaty of partition was figned in March 
 one thouiand leven hundred - t and the will 
 was made, to the belt of my remembrance, 
 in ihe October following. I (hall not enter 
 here iiuo many particulars concerning thefc 
 great events. They will be elated faith- 
 fully, and I hope fully explained, in a work 
 which your lordlhip may take the trouble 
 very probably ot perilling lome time or 
 other, and which 1 ihall rather leave, than 
 
 give to the public. Something however 
 
 
 mult be laid more, to continue and wind 
 
 up this fummary of the latter period of mo- 
 dern hiitory. 
 
 I-kANTE then faw her advantage, and 
 jmprovcd it no doubt, tho not in the man- 
 ner, nor with the circumftances, that fomc 
 lying fcriblers of memorials and anecdotes 
 h;:ve advanced. bh.: had icm one of the 
 S abk-it
 
 274 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 abhrt men of her court to that of Madrid, 
 
 the marfhal of HAKCOI/RT, and (he h.ui 
 
 ftipulated in the li\ond treaty of partition, 
 
 tha: the ariluiuke ihould go neither into 
 
 Sp.i'n nor the du'thy of Milan, dining the 
 
 life (i CM A K 1. 1 the freond. She v. as w;l- 
 
 Ii;K r to have her option between a treaty 
 
 and a will. Bv the acceprnnon of th* will, 
 
 all kin'j; WILLIAM'S meah:;es were brehe. 
 
 He was unprepaitd lor v^ar a-. n-i,;h as 
 
 when he made thele tieaties to prevent one \ 
 
 and if he meant in n aking ti.cm, v.h.:c 
 
 fome v. ;1V, bu-i !vf:nir:cr nxn h..ve fulpecreti, 
 
 .niul w!:at I cor.lcls 1 lee no re. lion to believe, 
 
 only to rain titiie by the t'lilieulty oi e\e- 
 
 ei;ti:^ tlier.i, and to prepare lor n\.L:r,g 
 
 w. t r, v. I;ei.e\'-.-r r!u % dentil ot the i^.;.-; (;f 
 
 STAIN fl'.oi'iu! r.iarm mankind, ai.u !v>u/-e 
 
 i;:s ( . v. n iul']ecls out <>\ their in.'k'.iv :ty aifj 
 
 ' il : if lc, i-.c W;>.M 
 i) ; tor ! !.;;., r to(;k 
 rr.nrurc hv a: o;,ce, 
 a:\i \si>h ur.ivi :!..! ur i.rrer.ce, ,-t halt 
 without oppi'S;'.!<,n ij'.' u.:I:v '..IP. , in favor 
 of the duke of AMCT. l\v \si..; f h.^lxe:i 
 (bitrvtii, (;; !;:"; iat ; er \vry ilioitK, 
 ..:..: 1 iear a little i :>;.h;!et!ly, :t is plain 
 t .' !> uiinj'- tl.v." p'-v. er ot l';r.ne-, an-i !v-- 
 cui.r..- tic v. !. -;!<. >;\.:-;! 1 i liitedii n (o the
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 275 
 
 WILLIAM, at the head of the Britifh and 
 Dutch commonwealths and of the grcatell 
 confederacy Europe had feen, was obliged 
 to give up. All the acquifitions that France 
 cared to keep for the maintenance of her 
 power were confirmed to her by the treaty 
 of Ryfwic : and king WILLIAM allowed, 
 indirectly at leail, the pretenfions of the 
 houfe ot Bourbon to the Spanifli fucccflion, 
 as Lr.wis the fourteenth allowed, in the 
 fame manner, thole of the houfe of Auftria, 
 by the treaties of partition. Strange fi* 
 tuation! in which no expedient remained 
 to prepare for an event, vifibly ib near, 
 and of luch vaft importar.je as the death of 
 the king of SPAIN', but a partition of his 
 monarchy, without his confenc, or his 
 knowledge! If king WILLIAM had not 
 made this partition, the emperor would 
 have made one-, and with as little regard to 
 trade, to the barrier oi the leven provinces, 
 or to the general fyllcm of Europe, as had 
 been Ihewed by him when he made the pri- 
 vate treaty with France already mentioned, 
 in one thoufand in hundred and lixty eight. 
 The minifters of Vienna were not: wanting 
 ro infinuate to thole of France overtures of 
 a ieparate treaty, as more conducive to 
 their common ir.terdts than the acceiTion 
 'Ji his i:rp'_'nal majciiy tj that of partition. 
 ~ S i But
 
 276 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 8. 
 
 But the councils of Vcrfaillcs judged very 
 rcafonably, that a partition made with Eng- 
 land ami Holland would be more effectual 
 than any other, it a partition was to take 
 place : and that Inch a partition would be 
 jufl as effectual as one made with the cn> 
 pcror, to turnilh arguments to the emiflaries 
 or France, and motives to the Spanifh 
 councils, if a will in favor of France could 
 be obtained. I repeat it a^ain ; I c.inr/H 
 ice what king WJLLIAM could do in Inch 
 circumllances as he lound himlelt in attcr 
 thirty years ilruggle, except what he did : 
 neither can I lee how he covild do what he- 
 did, efpecially after the reiemment ex- 
 pelled by the Spaniard^ ami the furi.ms 
 memorial prek'nted by C..NAJ.LS on the 
 t,on<luiion (;t t!ie iiili treaty ot p:ui!ti'.'n, 
 wi'.hout apprehending tliat the coj:^\:'.::T,ce 
 would be a will in tavor ot Franfi-. 1 ie 
 \vas in ilic worfl ot all political c;i\vini- 
 ilanccs, and liiat wherein no one good ir.ea- 
 lure remains lo be taken , and out ot which 
 lie left the two P:U;<JIU, at tl-e head i>f 
 whom he haJ b--en lo IOI^T, to li^ht and 
 negociatc thcmlclvrs and their eo;iicdc;\-:ci, 
 as well as they could. 
 
 V/HI.N; this will w.i^ m.idc and ncce]>:c\!, 
 J..LWIS tl.r lourtecnth iav! i'ucccedcd, and 
 
 the
 
 Let. 8. andStatcofEuROPE. 277 
 
 the powers in oppofition to him had failed, 
 in all the great objects of intereft and am- 
 bition, which they had kept in fight for 
 more than forty years-, that is, from the be- 
 ginning of the prcfent period. The actors 
 changed their parts in the tragedy that fol- 
 lowed. The power, that had fo long and 
 io cruelly attacked, was now to defend, the 
 Spanifh monarchy : and the powers, that 
 had fo long defended, were now to attack 
 it. Let us lee how this WPS brought about : 
 and that we may fee it the better, and make 
 a better judgment of all that puffed from 
 the death of CHARLES the fccond to the 
 peace of Utrecht, let us go back to the 
 time of his death, and coniider the circum- 
 ftances that formed this complicated ftate 
 of affairs in three views , a view of right, 
 a view of policy, and a view of power. 
 
 THF. right of fucceeding to the crown of 
 Spain would have been undoubtedly in the 
 children of MARIA THERESA, that is, in 
 the houfe of Bourbon , if this right had 
 not been barred by the iblemn renunciations 
 fo often mentioned. The pretenfions of 
 the houfe of Auftria were founded on thefe 
 renunciations, on the ratification of them by 
 the Pyrenean treaty, and the confirmation 
 of ihv4ii by the will of PHILIP the fourth. 
 S 3 The
 
 278 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 The pretcnfions of the houfe of Bourbon were 
 founded on a luppolkion, it was indeed no 
 more, and a vain one too, that theie re- 
 nunciations \vcrc in their nature null. On 
 this loot the diipute of ri^ht itood during 
 the life of CHARLES the fcxor.d, and on tlie 
 lame it would have continued to ftand even 
 after hu deatii, if the rcnunc;~:icns had re- 
 mained unfhaken , it his will, like that of 
 his father, had confirmed them, ..mi had 
 Icit the crown, in purluance of them, to 
 the houk' of Au fin a. liur the will of 
 CM \KI.LS the lecond, annulling tlieje re- 
 riu!n.'i.i[!oiis, took av, ay the lole tourniation 
 i'i tlie Auilnan j)rettnlio::s ; for, however 
 liijv an illicit be <<h;.ii;K\i, ;t v. ,,-, jull us 
 valid as hi?, iat!i<-r'.s nr.u \v. t ^ iunii.cd by 
 t;,.- univerial ci.'iuurrente i^i liie Sparsiin 
 i'i.uiun to the nc'.v k-til-jinc:^ he rn.xie <-r 
 tn.it trov. p.. 1 .ci it |-,c, as i rh;r,L H (-tij'i.L 
 tj P--', [-.r.iiiud, tli.i; the n in.- l ( c-;r.s (<>u!J i.( t 
 cl.:.,n a^rtiMi. reirjnci.M.'>:V' lint \sei;-, u I 
 in.p, lav to, c)rvii::uiis of ti;< ii t>;itii: but 
 LHAHI.IS the lec^nc! h.ni irri.iii 1'. as pcud 
 a ii-.'iit to (h;!!.;;e the count ot lunclii n 
 agrreabie to tiie oniev of nature .ind the 
 conflicut.on oi i.iat mnr.arfi'iy. alter hi^ true 
 h irs were i)rn, as I'MIJC \ < iouit'i had 
 to ( luni'c ir, toiura/} 'o :ii;- o:*.icr and ih:s 
 cc;n!!::i,i / . !;rj ;ic '.:. v v- -.-je t-jn rr . '
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 279 
 
 any other time. Me had as good a right, in 
 fliort, to difpenfe with the Pyrenean treaty, 
 and to let it alkie in this refpcft, as hii 
 lather had to make it: fo thut the renun- 
 ciations being annulled by that party to 
 the Pyrenean treaty who had exacted them, 
 they could be deemed no longer binding, 
 by virtue or this treaty, on the party who 
 had made them. The fole queltion that 
 remained therefore between thefe rival 
 houles, as to right, was this, whether the 
 engagements taken by LEWIS the fourteenth 
 m the partition treaties obliged him to ad- 
 here to the terms of the lait of them in all 
 events, and to deprive his family of the fuc- 
 ccfllon which the king ofSpMN opened, and 
 the Span i Hi nation offered to them ; rather 
 than to depart from a compofition he had 
 made, on pretenlions that were cUfputable 
 then, but were now out of diipute ? It may 
 be faid, and it was laid, that the treaties of 
 partition bein^ abiolute, without any con- 
 dition or c::a:pii'jn relative to any difpo- 
 iition the king of SPAIN* had made or 
 might make of his fuccefiion, in favor of 
 Bourbon or Aullria; the difpofition mavie 
 by iiis \vill, in favor of the duke of Ax- 
 jou, could not arlecl: the eno;ao;emenrr, fo 
 
 J O O 
 
 lately taken by LEWIS the fourteenth in 
 
 thele treaties, nor dilpenlc with a literal 
 
 S 4 ob-
 
 i9o A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.S. 
 
 obfcrration of them. This might be true 
 on Uriel principles of juftice , but I appre- 
 hend thr.t none ot thdc powers, who ex- 
 claimed fo loudly agair.fl the perfidy of 
 France in this caff, would have been more 
 fcrupuious in a parallel cafe. The maxim 
 * fummum jus eft fumma injuria 1 \vould have 
 been quoted, and the rigid letter of treaties 
 would have been foftcncd by an equitable 
 interpretation of their fpirit and intention. 
 His imperial majefty, above all, had not 
 the leaft color of ri^ht to exclaim againil 
 franco on this occafion > for in general, if 
 his family was to be dripped of all the do- 
 minions they have acquired by breach of 
 faith, and m<*ans much \vori-- than the ac- 
 ceprati'-n of the will, even allowing all the 
 i:;v:Jiou3 circumflances imputed to the 
 conduct, of France to be true, the Auftrian 
 fanv.Iy vv>.uld fink from tlieir p re fen: gran- 
 deur to tl.at low Ihitc r!iey were in tssoor 
 thrti- iLr/uries ago In particular, the 
 emperor, v.hn ha.! conflantly retu!\l to ac- 
 tfile tu t!i^ [ieau< -r of jvirtitiori, or to fub- 
 n.i: '" r'u- dilpofit'mns ir. ;<!; by th.rm, had 
 r.ot t!:e le,:(t j-1 lufible piet<T.. e ro r.!)j-:c~r. to 
 J.i.v.is t!ic t'-virtcer.tfj, tii.it !.r iltjianed 
 f: >m t'i'-rr.. Tlais, 1 r;..;.k, tl.r ripht of [he 
 f-.vo i-.ojfrs il r >'jd on *!,( death of CHAP I.FS 
 :r,c : coiui. 1 !.c i. t} J' of the Spaniards,
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 
 
 an independent nation, to regulate their 
 own fucceflion, or to receive the prince 
 whom their dying monarch had called to 
 it -, and the right of England and Holland 
 to regulate, the fucceflion, to divide, and 
 parcel out this monarchy in different lots, 
 it would be equally foolifh to go about 
 to eftablifti. One is too evident, the other 
 too abfurd, to admit of any proof. But 
 enough has been faid concerning right, 
 which was in truth little regarded by any 
 of the parties concerned immediately or re- 
 motely in the whole courfe of thefe pro- 
 ceedings. Particular interefts were alone 
 regarded, and thele were purfued as am- 
 bition, fear, reientment, and vanity di- 
 rected : I mean the ambition of the two 
 houfes contending for fuperiority of power; 
 the fear of England and Holland left this 
 Superiority Ihould become too great in ei- 
 ther ; the reientment of Spain at the dif- 
 memberment of that monarchy projected 
 by the partition-treaties -, and the vanity -of 
 that nation, as well as the princes of the 
 houle of Bourbon : for as vanity mingled 
 with refentment to make the will, vanity 
 had a great mare in determining the ac- 
 ceptation of it. 
 
 LET
 
 2$2 ASketch of the HISTORY Let. 5. 
 
 LET us now confidcr the fame coniunc- 
 turc in a view of policy. The policy or the 
 Spanilh coum ils was this. They could not 
 brook that thi ir monarchy thould be di- 
 vided : and tins principle i s ex p relied llrong- 
 ly in the will of LH, \RI.KS ti.c Iccor.d, 
 where he exhorts his lubjects nut to luficr 
 any dilmcmbcrmcnt or diminution or a 
 monarchy founded by hi* predcccflors with 
 ib much glory. Too weak to Inn-ler tins 
 dirmerabcrmcnt by their o*n ftrength, too 
 well apprifcd or the little force ii:id little, 
 views ot the court or Vienna, ;::id thtir old 
 alhes having cnp;.ir<\l to j^onne this dil- 
 mcmbcrmtnt even by lorcc ui arms ; no- 
 thing remained for them to do, lij.on this 
 principle, but to detach 1'r.HKc tiom tin- 
 cnpapenicnts of the p.;;^::on treaties by 
 ^ivinjr their whole n.or..in tiy to .1 pru:ce ol 
 the lioufc of Bo-.-rbon. A^ mi. h ;.-> may 
 have been laid conccrnin;?. the nffjotistions 
 of France tr> obr.iin a \\-ii in her ta\(jr, 
 and yet to keep in relerve the advantages 
 ftipulated for her by the p.irm.<,:i-:rtaiics 
 it Inch a will could m.r bv obtained, aiui 
 rho I ::tn pcriuailcd th.ir tiif marih.tl 01 
 } I A r c a r x i , who t(!jt.! to procure thij 
 v-'iii, maJe h.> court to 1 :. v. i , t!ir ff>ur- 
 ".cci.'iii ^s i:.'j(. ii a 1 li.f n-.. ! . 1 t l'.\' i < :\
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 283 
 
 \vho negotiated the partitions , yet it is 
 certain, that the acceptation of the will 
 was not a. meafure definitely taken at Ver- 
 failles when the king of SPAIN died. The 
 alternative divided thofe councils, and, with- 
 out entering at this time into the arguments 
 urged on each liJe, adhering to the parti- 
 tions Itemed the caufe of France, accepting 
 the will that of the ^oufe of Bourbon. 
 
 IT has been faid by men of great weight 
 in the councils of Spain, and was faid at 
 that time by men as litde fond of the houfe 
 of Bourbon, or of the French nation, as 
 their fathers had been-, that if England and 
 Holland had not formed a confederacy and 
 begun a war, they would have made PHILIP 
 the fifth as good a Spaniard as any of the 
 preceding PHILIPS, and not have endured 
 the influence of French councils in the ad- 
 miniftration of their government: but that 
 we threw the-n entirvly into the hands of 
 France when we began the war, becaufe 
 the fleets and armies of this crown being 
 necefiary to their defence, they could not 
 avoid fubmittins; to this influence as lonr* 
 
 . 
 
 as the lame necefiity continued ; and, in 
 fact, we have teen tiv.: the influence lulled 
 no longer. But notwithstanding this, it 
 rr.uit be c^nfeued, ih.u a v;?.r was un avoid- 
 able.
 
 284 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let.S. 
 
 able. The* immediate fecuring of commerce 
 and of barrier?, the preventing an iinkm of 
 the two monarchies m lomc future time, 
 and the preservation of a certain degree at 
 lealt ot equality in the tcales ot power, 
 were points too important to Kr.giand, 
 1 {olland, and the reit or Europe, to be 
 idled on the moderation of J'Ycnch, and 
 the vigor ot Spaniih councils, under a 
 prince of the houlc of France. If fati^'.ic- 
 tion to the hor.i-- of Aullria, to whole rights 
 l.ngland and 1 lolland mewed no great re- 
 gard whillt they were better founded than 
 they were fincc the will, had been alone 
 concerned ; a drop oi blood fpilt, or five 
 {hillings fpent in the qviarrcl, would have 
 been too much profusion. J>ut t'iis was 
 properly the fcale into which it became the 
 common irncreit to t!:ro\v .ill the weight 
 that could be taken out ot '.ha: <>i Hnurbon. 
 And therefore your lordfliip will tin.!, that 
 when negociations with i)'Av.\< x were U't 
 on foot in Holland to prevent a war, or 
 rather on our part to ?,.un time t<> prepaie 
 for it, in which view the- Duuh and we 
 had both acknowledged l'ji:j.:r k'^g of 
 STAIN ; ti,e great article \sc millb'd :\ 
 was, that reaf/r.able i.i'i f.idi -.MI flioi.id 
 be piven tin- empc-or, upon lip. pretenfior.j 
 Jouiui^d oil t;it treaty or rir^i; -ri. 
 
 CO'..
 
 Let. 3. and State of E u ROPE. 285 
 
 could do no otherwife; and France, who 
 offered to make the treaty of" Ryiwic the 
 foundation of that treaty, could do no othcr- 
 wilc ih.ui refuie to conlent that the treaty 
 of partition ihould be ib, after accepting the 
 will, and thereby engaging to oppofe all 
 partition or difmembcrmcnt of the Spanifh 
 monarchy. J fhould mention none of the 
 other demands of England and Holland, 
 if I could neglect to point out to your lord- 
 Chip's obfervation, that the fame artifice 
 was employed at this time, to perplex the 
 more a negotiation that could not fucceed 
 on other accounts, as we law employed in 
 the courfe of the war, by the Englifh and 
 Dutch miniilers, to prevent the fuccefs of 
 negotiations that might, and ought to have 
 fucceeded. The demand I mean is that of 
 *' a liberty not only to explain the terms 
 " propofed, but to increafe or amplify 
 " them in the courfe of the negotiation." 
 I do no: remember the words, but this is 
 the fenfe, and this was the meaning of the 
 confederates in both cafes. 
 
 In the former, king WILLIAM was de- 
 termined to begin the war by all the rules 
 of good policy -, fmce he could not obtain, 
 nay fmce France could not grant in that 
 conjuncture, nor without being forced to it 
 by a war, what he was obliged by thde 
 
 very
 
 286 ASkctch of thcHisTORY Lct.S, 
 
 very rules to demand. ije intended there- 
 lore nothinn by this negotiation, it" it may 
 be called iuui, but to prcfcrvc forms and 
 appearances, and perhaps, which many 
 have lulpecud, to have time to prepare, as 
 1 hinted jull now, both abroad and ac 
 home. M my tiling concurred to favor 
 his preparations abroad. The alarm, that 
 had been Driven in' I;K- a.\ CIK.I:I.,:I of the 
 
 i 
 
 will, wa-> incrcaicd by e\er> it-.-o [luc France 
 in ado to lecure the eiic'.t or it. Thus, lor 
 inllance, the iiirpr-f):;^ and k-i.:ing tiie 
 iJiuch trooj>s, in t!ie lame ni.^h:, and ac 
 the iame hour, that were dilptTled in the 
 garrilbns of t.he Spanilh Netherlands, was 
 nor excutld by the jieceilhy o: ivcuriiiir iliote 
 places to the cbediencc 1 o; i';;;!.,;', n< r lui- 
 tened by the immediate dil:riiili(.n ot :!..>!e 
 troops. 1 iie impreili'jn it made wa-> n.i\ h 
 the iame as thole or' li.e lu;-j,r;L^ .uid loi- 
 zures <>; I- ranee in ior;r,vT ului pa'uon.s. 
 No one knr\v \'.\c:\ that the iove!eii.':i:y of 
 the ten piovincvN \vasto \'C ) '.eLiev.! i:p to 
 the elector or i>Av/...i.\ : .:nd evcrv u; v .c ia\v 
 that tliere rc;nai;K\! r/> longer any barrier 
 between i-rance aiui the levui provinces. 
 At home, the dilpofinon 01 the nation was 
 abiolutely turned to a \v..r v.-;ri 1- ranee, on 
 the death of km:; J.\v:: s tb.e K'CcnJ, l>y the 
 acknowlcd ir.cr.: i.. ;. v. is tl.c Jourtecnth
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 287 
 
 made of his ion as king of England. I 
 know what has been fiid in excuie for this 
 nicalurc, taken as I believe, on female 
 importunity ; but certainly without any re- 
 gard to public faith, to the true intercil oi" 
 France in thole circumftances, or to the true 
 interell of the prince thus acknowledged, in 
 any. It was laid, that the treaty ot Ryfwic 
 obliging his molt chrillian majefty only noc 
 to dilhirb king WILLIAM in his poficfilon, 
 he might, without any violation of it, have 
 acknowledged this prince as king of Eng- 
 land ; according to the political cafuiftry 
 of the French, and the example of France, 
 who finds no fault with the powers that 
 treat wich the kings ot England, akho the 
 kings ot England retain the title of kings 
 of France , as well as the example of 
 Spain, who makes no complaints that other 
 itatcs treat with the kins:s of France, al- 
 
 ^j 
 
 tho the kings of France retain the title of 
 Navarre. But befides that the examples 
 are not appciite, becaule no other powers 
 acknowledge in iorni the kiny; of England 
 
 t> ^ w? C3 
 
 to be king ot France, nor the king of 
 France to be king of Navarre ; with what 
 face could the French excule this meafure ? 
 Could they excule it by urging that they 
 adhered u thr (trict letter of one article of 
 the treaty jf Rylv/ic, againlt thepkin inean- 
 
 inr*'
 
 288 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let.8. 
 
 ing of that very article, and againft the 
 whole tenor of that treaty ; in the lame 
 breath with which they juthtied the accep- 
 tation of the will, by pretending they ad- 
 hered to the fuppofed Ipirit and general in- 
 tention of the treaties of partition, in con- 
 tradiction to ilie letter, to the fpeciric en- 
 gagements, a:ul to tiie \\hole purport ot 
 thole treaties ? This p.irr of the conduct of 
 l.r.wis the fourteenth may appear juitly the 
 more lurprifing, bccaule in moft otlier 
 parts of his conduct at the lame time, and 
 in lomc to his difadvantage, lie acted cau- 
 tiouily, endeavoured to calm the minds or 
 his neighbours, to reconcile Furore to h>s 
 grandlon's elevation, and to avoid all fhov 
 of beginning hollihtics. 
 
 THO king WILLIAM was determined to 
 engage in a war with l ; rance and Spain, 
 ye: the, lame <n)od policy, that determined 
 him to en<:a::i-, determined liim not to en- 
 gage too deeply. The engagement: taken 
 in the grand alliance ot one thoufand leven 
 hundred and one is, " To procure an cqui- 
 41 table and reafonable fatisfac^ion to his 
 " imperial majelly for his pretenlion to the 
 41 Spaniili lucceflion -, and luiticicnt lecu- 
 ** rity to tlu- king of l'.s<;i. -\\n, and t!:e 
 41 States (j-jner.'.l, for tlicir lioiv,;;.: ;ns r.:ui 
 14 for tb.e ]...v:ai;on ai;d cOiiniH-r^ c <<; t;,eir
 
 Let. 8. and State of KUROPE. 289 
 
 " fubjec'ts, and to prevent the union of the 
 " two monarchies of France and Spain." 
 As king of England, as ftateholder of 
 Holland, he neither could, nor did en- 
 gage any further. If may be difputed per- 
 haps among ipeculative politicians, whe- 
 ther the balance of power :n Europe would 
 have been better preferved by that fcheme 
 of partition, which the treaties, and parti- 
 cularly the laft of them, propofcd, or by 
 that which the grand alliance propoled to be 
 the object or the war ? I think there is little 
 room for luch a difpuce, as I lhall have 
 O' dion tc lay hereafter more exi rcfiy. In 
 ti, place I (hall only fay, th.u (';ie objecl 
 of this war, which king WILLIAM medi- 
 tated, and queen ANNE waged, was a par- 
 tition, by which a prince of the houfe of 
 Bourbon, already acknowledged by us and 
 the Dutch as king of Spain, was to be left 
 on the throne of that diimembcred monar- 
 chy. The wil'dom of thofe councils law 
 that the peace of Europe might be rellored 
 and tec u red on thi'- foot, and that the li- 
 berties of Furope would be in no danger J 
 
 THE fcale?; of the balance of posvcr will 
 
 iwer be exactly poizvd, nor in the preciie 
 
 point 01 equality either difcernible or ne-r 
 
 i-CTiry ro be difcerned. It is lufHcient in 
 
 T tliis
 
 290 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 9. 
 
 this, as in other human affairs, that the 
 deviation be not too great. S >mc there 
 will alv. ays be. A conllant attention to 
 thcfe deviations is therefore ncccfiary. 
 When they arc little, their incrcafc may be 
 cafily prevented by early care and the pre- 
 cautions that good policy luggefts. But 
 when they become great tor want of this 
 care and thclc precautions, or by the force 
 of unforciecn events, more vigor is to be 
 exerted and greater ell on* to be made. But 
 even in Inch caies, much reflection is ntr- 
 cclfary on all the circumflanccs that form 
 the conjuncture , It It, by attacking wuh ill 
 fuccel's the deviation be confirmed, and 
 the power that is dee.-r.ed already exorbi- 
 tant become more fo-, and led, by attacking 
 with good iuccels, w!,i!!l one Kale i* pil- 
 l.i'ied, too much weight >r puv.-er be thrown 
 int'j the other. In ludi cale^, he who has 
 confidcred, in tl:t- hillones ot i<*rmer a^c-s > 
 the llraru j e revolutions liuit t;:i> pmdia'es, 
 antl the perpetu..! t!nx a;M ret! :.\ ol public 
 a> N 1 "!! a>> pi;v.jte lort'.ifK- , oi kirii 
 
 an, 
 
 I ( ' r <. 
 i 1 1 .lU S .1 ' 
 
 . ue.l ,\s i 
 
 >\ t,u 
 
 )le wi.o 
 
 ; oV 
 
 or 
 
 ;ue -ve 
 
 r:uM in ti 
 
 !(.' 1 1, 
 
 will i,;, 
 
 i,l,C 
 
 tni: 
 
 ik, t::.u 
 
 i: the U 
 
 ies c 
 
 .!!! 1>C I 
 
 >! <>'J< 
 
 ha 
 
 i; bv a 
 
 v. r, HI'.. 
 
 '. , t 
 
 1 . '. ) not <. 
 
 \ . i 
 
 
 
 
 . ^ 
 
 
 
 t r > 
 
 t.'.e ; . 
 
 ' . . e\ > 
 
 
 . ) ' e t . i 
 
 
 to
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 291 
 
 accidents, and to the ufc that good policy 
 is able to make of them. 
 
 WHEN CHARLES the fifth was at the 
 heighth of his power, and in the zenith of 
 his glory, when a king of France and a 
 pope were at once his prifoners ; it muft 
 be allowed, that, his fnuation and that of 
 his neighbours compared, they had as much 
 at lead to fear from him and from the 
 houie of Aultria, as the neighbours of 
 l.nwis the fourteenth had to fear from him 
 and from the houfe of Bourbon, when, af- 
 ter all his other fuccefs, one of his grand- 
 children was placed on the Spanifh throne. 
 And yet among all the conditions of the 
 feveral leagues againft CHARLES the fifth, 
 I do not remember that it was ever liipu- 
 lated, that " no peace fliould be made 
 " with him as long as he continued to be 
 " emperor and king of Spain - y nor as 
 " long as any Austrian prince continued 
 " capable of uniting on his head the Im- 
 
 i O 
 
 " perial and Spanifh crowns." 
 
 IF your lordihip makes the application, 
 you will find that the difference of fome 
 circumftances does not hinder this exam- 
 ple from being very appofite, and ftrong 
 IQ the prefcnt purpofc. CHARLES the fifth 
 T I WAS
 
 292 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 was emperor and king of Spain -, but nei- 
 ther wai LF.WIS the fourteenth king of 
 Spain, nor PHILIP the litth king of 
 France. That hail happened in one in- 
 ttance, which it was apprehended might 
 happen in the other. It had happened, 
 and it was reafonably to be apprchmdcd 
 that it might happen again, and that the 
 Imperial ant! Spanifh crowns might conti- 
 nue, not only in the fame family, but on 
 rhe fame heads , for mealures were taken 
 lo It-cure the lucccffion of both to PHILIP 
 the Ion ci CHARI. FS. We do not find 
 however tliat any confederacy was formed, 
 any engagement taken, or ar.y \sar made, 
 to remove cr prevent this great evil. The 
 primes and llnus of 1'iirope contented 
 themlelves to oppofe t!ie deliyns ot CHARM s 
 the fur!), and to (!:c-v.k t!;e growth of IKS 
 power occasionally, a;:,! as nut-reit invited, 
 or iicceliity toicctl [|KHI I" do- r^t con- 
 liantly. I I <- p y dk! j-ei \r.\\>> toi* l.:ilc apaiiilt 
 hin\ ::r.d l';iv.et::r.es too nuuh lur IIITM : 
 tr,.: it t!:-y did too lii;i;-M one k.nd, ti:re 
 ar.,i .i li.ienl ilid. tin ivll. 1 );!li!.CL liomi- 
 i;io,:s and dil.ci'int j>r< rcnii ): >, treated 
 conti-.r* intermits LI [! l.-nk- M .\i,.tn.i: 
 ;;!>'. on tl;e alv.iic.st!'V> c: ('H\ i.i.s the iiitii, 
 }-.:\ I'.- 'i:<T lv.. - ' '-i ; , ;:. l..s |.r[>, , the 
 ( ::.i :i -. 'i !u - !. '' .1 :\i.' In. i civ !.:. -J in- 
 to
 
 
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 293 
 
 to a German and a Spaniih branch : ami 
 it the two branches came to have a mutual 
 influence on one another and frequently a 
 common intereft, it was not till one of 
 them had fallen from grandeur, and till 
 the other was rather aiming at it, than in 
 poflTeftion of it. In fhort PHILIP was ex- 
 cluded from the imperial throne by fo na- 
 tural a progreifion of caules and effects, 
 anii.og not only in Germany but in his own 
 family, that if a treaty had been made to 
 exclude him from it in favour of FERDINAND; 
 fuch a treaty might have been laid very 
 probably to lave executed itfelf. 
 
 THE precaution I hive mentioned, and 
 that was neglected in this caie without any 
 detriment to the common caule of Europe, 
 was not neglected in the grand alliance of 
 one thoufand (even hundred and one. For 
 in that, one of the ends propofed by the 
 war is, to obtain an erK-ctual fecuritv attain ft 
 
 O 
 
 the contingent union or the crowns of 
 France and Spain. The will of CHARLES 
 the iecond provides acainit the lame contin- 
 gency : and this great principle of pre- 
 venting too much dominion and power 
 from tailing to the lot of either of the fa- 
 milies of Bourbon or Auftria, fecmed to 
 be agreed on all fides i ft nee in the par- 
 T i ti:ioa-
 
 94 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 6. 
 tition-treaty the fame precaution was taken 
 againft an union of the Imperial and Spa- 
 nifh crowns. King WILLIAM was enough 
 piqued againft France. His ancient pre- 
 judices were ftrong and well founded. He 
 had been wortted in war, over- reached in 
 negociation, and perfonally affronted by 
 her. Kngland and 1 lolland were fufficiently 
 alarmed and animated, and a party was not 
 wanting, even in our ifland, ready to ap- 
 prove any engagements he would have 
 taken againft France and Spain, and in 
 favor of the houfe of Auftria; tho we were 
 lefs concerned, by any national intereft, 
 than any other power that took part in the 
 war, cither then, or afterwards. But this 
 prince was far from taking a part beyond 
 that which the particular interelts of Eng- 
 land and I lolland, and the general interctt 
 of Kurope, necefTanly required. Pique 
 mult h.ive no more a phcc than affeclion, 
 in deliberations of this kind. To have 
 engaged ro dethrone PHILIP, our of relent- 
 mcnt to I,F.WIS the fourteenth, would have 
 been a rclo'ution worthy of CIIARLHS the 
 Twelfth, king of Sweden, who lacrificed 
 his country, his people, and himlclf at lall. 
 to his revenge-. '!<> fiave eni!.^ed to con- 
 cjiicr the Sj an:!li monarchy Jor the houie 
 < I Aulrna, or to <-o, 1:1 tr.vcr ol th.ir ra- 
 
 inily,
 
 L/et.8. and State of Eu ROP E. 295 
 
 mily, one llep beyond thofc that were nc- 
 ceflary to keep this houfe on a foot of rivalry 
 with the other, would have been, as I have 
 hinted, to act the part of a vaflal, not of 
 an ally. The former pawns his flute, and 
 ruins his fubjccls, for the inteicft of his 
 luperior lord, perhaps for his lord's humor, 
 or his paffion : the Utter goes no further 
 than his own intereit carries him-, nor makes 
 war for thole of another, nor even for his 
 own if they are remote and contingent, 
 as if he fought pro aris et focis, for his re- 
 ligion, his liberty, and his property. A- 
 grecably to thefc principles of good policy, 
 we entered into the war that began on the 
 death of CHARLES the fecond : but we loon 
 departed from them, as I mall have occa- 
 fion to obferve in confidering the (late of 
 things, at this remarkable juncture, in 
 a view of ftrength. 
 
 LET me recall here what I have faid 
 lb me where die. They who are in the 
 finking fcalc of the balance of power do 
 not eafily, nor loon, come off from the 
 habitual prejudices of fuperiority over their 
 F.eighbours, nor trom the confidence that 
 fuch prejudices inipire. From the year one 
 thouland fix hundred and fixty icven, to 
 the end of lhat century, France had been 
 T 4 L'onilar.tly
 
 296 A Sketch of the HISTORY Lei. 8. 
 
 conftantly in arms, and her arm*; had been 
 fucccfsful. She had lullained a war, with- 
 out any confederates apainft the principal 
 powers cf Europe confederated agamlt her, 
 and had fimlhcd it with advantage on every 
 fide, juft before the death of the king of 
 SPAIN. She continued armed arter the 
 peace, by fca and Und. She increafcd her 
 forces, while other nations reduced theirs, 
 and was ready to dctend, or to invade her 
 neighbours, whillt, their confederacy being 
 difiblved, they were in no condition to in- 
 vade her, and in a bad one to defend them- 
 felvcs. Spain and France had now one 
 common caulc. The electors of BAVARIA 
 and COLOGNE lupported it in Germany, the 
 duke of SAVOY was an ally, the duke of 
 MANILA a vaffal of the two crowns in 
 Italy. In a word, appearances were for- 
 midable on that fide; and if adillruft cf 
 lr.rc.npth, on the fide of the confederacy, 
 had induct d F.ngland and I lolland to com- 
 pound wiih I't.ince tor a parurion of the 
 Spamfh furceli'i.ni, there feemed to be Itill 
 greater realn for this diftrull after the ac- 
 cf[-tnrion c;f the will, the peaceable ami 
 ready lubmifllon ot the entire monarchy of 
 IS p.i in roi'nn.ir, ar;<i ,:11 the me.;lure- taken 
 to lecure Ki.i) in tins pofl'-fnon. Such ap- 
 n.:^?t v.fll i'7-poie. 1 hey did 
 
 lu
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 277 
 
 fo on many, and on none more than on the 
 French themlclves, who engaged with great 
 confidence and fpirit in the war ; when they 
 found it, as they might well expect it would: 
 be, unavoidable. The ftrengtfi of' France? 
 however, tho great, was not fo great as the 
 French thought it, nor equal to the efforts 
 they undertook to make. Their engage- 
 ment, to maintain the Spaniih monarchy 
 entire under the dominion of PHILIP, ex- 
 ceeded their ftrength. Our engagement, 
 to procure jfome out-fkirts of it for the 
 houie of Auflria, was not in the fame dif- 
 proportion to our itrength. If I fpeak 
 pofitively on this occalion, yet I cannot be 
 accufed of prefumpdon , becaufe, how dif- 
 putable foever thefe points might be when 
 they were points of political fpeculatiort, 
 they are fuch no longer, and the judgment 
 { make is dictated to me by experience. 
 France threw herlelf into tta: linking fcaky 
 when ihr accepted the will Her fcalc 
 continued to fink during the whole courie 
 of the war, and mi^ht have been kept by 
 the peace as low as the true intereft of Hu- 
 rope required. What I remember to have 
 heard the duke of MARLBOROUGH lay, be- 
 fore he went to take OH him the command 
 of the army in the Low Countries in one 
 thouiatid ieven hundred and two, proved 
 
 true.
 
 2^8 A Sketch of the Hi si DRY Let. 8. 
 
 true. The French rr.ifreckoncd very much, 
 if they made the fame comparilbn between 
 their troops and thofc of their enemies, as 
 they had made in precedent wars. Thole 
 that had been oppoled to them, in the lafr, 
 were raw for the mod part when it began, 
 the Britifh particularly : but they had been 
 disciplined, if I may fay fo, by their defeats. 
 1 hey were grown to be veteran at the 
 peace of Ryfwic, and tho many had been 
 c'-.fbanded, yet they had been difbandcd 
 lately : fo that even thcle were eafily formed 
 a-new, and the Ipirit that had been railed 
 continued in all. Supplies of men to re- 
 cruit the armies were more abundant on the 
 Jide of the confederacy, than on that of the 
 two crowns : a neceflary confequence of 
 which it feemed to be, that thofe of the 
 former would grow better, and thofe of 
 the latter worfe, in a long, extenfw, and 
 bloody war. I believe it proved fo -, and 
 if my memory does nor deceive me, the 
 French were forced very early to lend re- 
 cruits to their armies, as they lend flaves 
 to their gallics. A companion between 
 thofe who were to direct their councils, and 
 to conduct the armies on both fides, is a 
 tafk it would become me little to undertake. 
 The event mewed, that if France hail had 
 her C o K D E, her i i: x t. v N , or her 1 .v x- 
 
 M r. i; k f.
 
 Let. 8, and State of EUROPE. 
 
 EMBURG, to oppofe to the confederates : the 
 confederates might have oppofed to her, 
 with equal confidence, their EUGENE of 
 Savoy, their MARLBOROUCH, or their STA- 
 RENBERG. But there is one obfervation I 
 cannot forbear to make. The alliances 
 were concluded, the quotas were fettled, 
 and the leafon for taking the field ap- 
 proached, when king WILLIAM died. The 
 event could not fail to occafion Ibme con- 
 (lernation on one fide, and to give fome 
 hopes on the other i for, notwithftanding 
 the ill luccefs with which he made war ge- 
 nerally, he was looked upon as the iole 
 centre of union tfyat could keep together 
 the great confederacy then forming : and 
 how much the French feared, from his life, 
 had appeared a few years before, in the 
 extravagant and indecent joy they exprefled 
 on a falfe report of his death. A mort 
 time (hewed how vain the fears of fome 
 and the hopes of others were. By his death, 
 the duke of MARLBOROUGH was raifed to 
 the head of the army, and indeed of the 
 confederacy : where he, a new, a private 
 man, a lubjcct, acquired by merit and by 
 management: a more deciding inliuence, than 
 high birth, confirmed authority, and even 
 the crown of Great Britain, had given to 
 king WILLIAM. Not only all the parts 
 
 of
 
 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 of that vaft machine, the grand alliance, 
 were ke pt more compact and enwc , but a 
 more rapid and vigorous motion was given 
 to the whole : ami, inltead of hnguilh- 
 ing out difaltrous can>paigns, we faw every 
 fctne of the war full or action. All thole 
 wherein he appeared, and many of thofc 
 wherein he was not then an ador, but abettor 
 however of their a<5lion, were crowned with 
 the moft triumphant fuccels. I take with 
 pleafure this opportunity of doing jufticc to 
 that great man, whole taults I knew, whole 
 virtues I admired ; and whole memory, as 
 the greatelr. general and as the greatelt mi- 
 filter thac our country or perhaps any other 
 has produced, I honor. But belkles this, 
 the obfervation I have made comes into my 
 fubject, fince it ferves to jwint out to your 
 lordlhip the proof of what I laid above, 
 that France undertook too much, when 
 Ac undertook to maintain the Spanifh mo- 
 narchy entire in the pofleflion of PHILIP : 
 and that we undertook no more th.m what 
 was proportionable to our ftrmth, when 
 we undertook to weaken that monarchy by 
 dismembering it, in the hand^ ot a princr 
 of the houfe of Bourbon, which we had 
 been difablcd by ill fortune and \vorle con- 
 dudt to keep our or them. Ir may t.v laid 
 :hat the rrtat luecel.i oi the coiiiedi ;.it<-s
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. ?oi 
 
 +j 
 
 ngainft France proves that their generals 
 were fupcrior to hcr's, but not that their 
 forces and their national (Irength were fo; 
 that with the fam force with which (he 
 was beaten, flic might have been victorious; 
 that it" ihc had been fo, or if the fuccefs of 
 the war had varied, or been lefs dccifivre 
 againlr. her in Germany, in the Low Coun- 
 tries, and in Italy, as it was in Spain, her 
 ftrength would have appeared lufficient, 
 and that of the confederacy inefficient. 
 Many things may be urged to deftroy this 
 reafoning : I content myfclf with one. 
 France could not long have made even the 
 unfucccfsful efforts ihe did make, if Eng- 
 land and Holland had done what it is un- 
 deniable they had Itrength to do ; if be- 
 fidcs pillaging, 1 do not fay conquering, 
 the Spanifh Weft-Indies, they had hindered 
 the French irom going to the South Sea; 
 as they diJ annually during the whole 
 courfe of the war without the lead molefta- 
 tion, and from whence they imported into 
 France in that time as much filvcr and gold 
 as the whole fpecies of that kingdom 
 amounted to. With this immenfe and 
 conitant iupply of wealth Trance was re- 
 duced in effect to bankruptcy before the 
 end of the war. Mow much fooner mull 
 ihe have been io, if this fupply had been 
 
 kept
 
 302 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 8. 
 
 kept from her ? The confeflkm of France 
 hcrfclf is on my fide. She confeflcd hrr 
 inability to fupport what fhe had under- 
 taken, when ihc fued for jxrace as early as 
 the year one thoufand fcven hundred and 
 fix. She made her utmoft efforts to an- 
 fwer the expectation of the Spaniards, and 
 to keep their monarchy entire. When ex- 
 perience had made it evident that this was 
 beyond her power, ihe thought herlelf ju- 
 flitied to the Spanilh nation, in conlentmg 
 to a partition, and was ready to conclude 
 a pc.ice with the allies on the principles of 
 thnr grand alliance. But as France leemed 
 to flatter herlelf, till experience made her 
 dcfirous to abandon an entcrprile that ex- 
 ceeded her flreiJL't.'i ; you will find, my 
 lord, that her enemies began to iljitwr 
 themlclvcs in their turn, and to form 
 dcfigns and take engagements that ex- 
 ceeded theirs. Great Britain was drawn 
 into thclc engagements little by little , for 
 I do not remember any parliamentary de- 
 claration for continuing the war t:il I'mur 
 mould be dethroned, before the year one 
 thoufand fevcn hundred and fix : and then 
 fuch a declaration was juducd neull.iry to 
 fccond the relolution ot our nuailu-rs and 
 our allies, in departing Irom the principles 
 of the grand alliance, and in nrupuling not 
 
 only
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 303 
 
 only the reduction of the French, but the 
 conqucft of the Spanifh monarchy, as the 
 objects of the war. This new plan had 
 taken place, and we had begun to act upon 
 it, two years before, when the treaty with 
 Portugal was concluded, and the archduke 
 CHARLES, now emperor, was fent into 
 Portugal firft, and into Catalonia after- 
 wards, and was acknowledged and fup- 
 ported as king of Spain. 
 
 WHEN- your lordfhip perufes the anec- 
 dotes of the times here Ipoken of, and con- 
 iiuers the courie and event of the great war 
 which broke out on the death of the king 
 of Spain, CHARLES the lecond, and was 
 ended by the treaties of Utrecht and Rad- 
 ftat i you will find, that in order to form 
 a true judgment on the whole you muft 
 confidcr very attentively the great change 
 made by the new plan that I have men- 
 tioned ; and compare it with the plan of 
 the grand alliance, relatively to the gene- 
 ral mtereit of Europe, and the particular 
 interell ot your own country. It will not, 
 becaule it cannot, be denied, that all the 
 ends oi the grand alliance might have been 
 obtained by a peace in one thoufand feven 
 hundred and fix. I need not recall the 
 events of that, and ot the precedent years 
 
 of
 
 A SkctJiof the HISTORV Let. S. 
 
 of the war. Not only the arms of France 
 had been defeated on every fide ; but the 
 inward flate of that kingdom was already 
 more exhaulled than it had ever been. She 
 went on indeed, but (he daggered and 
 reeled under the burden of the war. Our 
 condition, I Ipeak ot Great Britain, was 
 not quite To bad s but the charge of the 
 war incrcafed annually upon us. It was 
 evident that this charge nuiit continue to 
 increule, ami i: u.rs r.o Icls evident th:;t our 
 nation was unable to bear it without tailing 
 loon into fucli dill re Is, and contracting 
 lucli debts, as v>e have Iccn and frit, and 
 Hill feel. The Dutch neither retrained 
 their trade, nor over-loaded it with taxes. 
 They focn aircrcd t!;;- proportion of their 
 quotas, and were deficient even after IMS 
 alteration in them. But, howe\er, it 
 mull be allowed that thev exerted their 
 whok ftren^tli-, and tlu-y and we paid the 
 whole charge or the war. Since tiiererore 
 by luch efforts as could not be continued 
 any longer, without (ipprefiiat; and ui.po- 
 vcrifhing thele nations to a tiep?ee liiat 
 no interctl except that of their very Ixrinp, 
 nor any engagement (1 alTifting an alliance 
 tons viribus can reqiiire, l-:;ir.cc was re- 
 duced, and all the ends ot" the war were 
 become attainable ; ir v.;ll be v\orth \our
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 305 
 
 lordfhip's while to confider why the true 
 ule was not made of the luccefs of the con- 
 federates n^ainlt France and Spain, and 
 why a peace was not concluded in the iiith 
 year of the war. \Vhen your lordfhip con- 
 Iklers this, you will compare in your 
 thoughts what the Hate of Europe would 
 have been, and that of your own country 
 might have been, if the plan ot the grand 
 alliance had been purlued : with the polli- 
 ble as well as ceriain, the contingent as 
 well as necefiary, confcquences of chang- 
 ing this plan in the manner it was chang;ed, 
 
 O 4 O 
 
 You will be of opinion, I think, and it 
 
 ibtms to me, after more than twenty years 
 of recollection, re-examination, and reflec- 
 tion, that impartial pollerity mult be of the 
 fame opinion , you will lx' of opinion, I 
 think, that th. war was wile and jull before 
 the change, becaule necefiary to maintain 
 that equality among the powers of Europe 
 on which tht public peace and common 
 prolperity depends : and that it was unwife 
 and unjult alter this change, because un- 
 neccffary to this end, and directed to other 
 and to contrary ends. You will be guiucd 
 by undeniable facts to difcover, through all 
 i he falle colors which have been laid, 
 .i:ul winch, deceived many at the time, that 
 rhe war, .'.i'.cr this change, became a war 
 U of
 
 306 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. if. 
 
 of pafilon, of ambition, of avarice, and of 
 private intetcit ; the private inierrft or par- 
 ticular perlons and particular dates i to 
 which the general intercit of Europe wa* 
 lacrificed lo entirely ; that if the terms in- 
 iilied on by the confederates had been 
 granted, nay if even thole which France 
 was reduced to grant, in one thouland fe- 
 ven hundred and ten, h.:d been accepted, 
 Inch a new fyltem ot power would have been 
 created as might have expofcd the balance 
 of this power to deviations, and the peace 
 of Europe to troubles, not inferior to thole 
 that the war was deiigncd, when it began, 
 to prevent. \Vhiltl you oblervc thii in 
 general, you will find particular occaiiun 
 to lament the fate of Great Britain, in the 
 mid ft of triumphs that have been founded 
 lo high. She had triumphed indeed to the 
 vear one thouland lev en hundred and fix 
 inclufively : but what were her triumpiis 
 afterwards ? \Vh.it was her iucccls after llic 
 proceeded on the new plan ? 1 (hall lay 
 Ibmething on that head immediately. Here 
 let me only lay, that the glory of taking 
 towns, and winning battles, is to be me i- 
 furrd by the utility that refuhs from tir>ji: 
 viflories. Victories, that brir.jz honor t<; 
 tr-e arms, may br;i'.;; lli.;r,e to the coun- 
 cils, of a nation. Tu w,n a battle, tr> 
 
 t.kc
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 307 
 
 take a town, is the glory of a general, and 
 of an army. Of this glory we had a very 
 large fhare in the courle of the war. But 
 the glory of a nation is to proportion the 
 ends fhc propofcs , to her intcreft and her 
 ftrength ^ the means (he employs to the 
 tnds fhe propolcs , and the vigor fht: 
 exerts to both. Of this glory, I appre- 
 hend, we have had very little to boalt, at 
 any time, and particularly in the great con- 
 juncture of which I am fpeaking. The rea- 
 ions of ambition, avarice, and private in- 
 tereft, which engaged the princes and dates 
 of the confederacy to depart from the prin- 
 ciples of the grand alliance, were no realons 
 fur Great Britain. She neither expected 
 noc ox-fired any thing more than what fhe 
 might have obtained by adhering to thofe 
 principles. What hurried on; nation then, 
 with lo much fpirit and ardor, into thofe 
 of the new plan ? Your lordfhip will an- 
 fwer this queftion to yourielf, I believe, 
 by the prejudices and ramncis of party; 
 by the influence that the firft fucccifes o 
 the confederate arms gave to our minifters ; 
 and the popularity they gave, if I may 
 fay fo, to the war , by ancient, and frclh re- 
 kntments, which the unjuft and violen; 
 uiurpations, in fhort the whole conduct of 
 Lfc'.vjs the fourteenth for forty years togo 
 U i ther,
 
 3 :"'S ASketchofthePftsTORY Let. 8. 
 
 thcr, his haughty treatment of other princes 
 and itates, and even the ft vie of his co^rt, 
 had created , and, to mention no more, by 
 a notion, groundlefs but prevalent, that he 
 was and would be mailer as long as his 
 grandfon w;<s king or Spain, and that there 
 could be no c 111 dual Piealuiv taken, tho 
 (he tyand alliance fuppofrd that there r.ihiht. 
 to pi event a future, unx:; or th<- tsv-) piun- 
 arc liies, as long ,is a prince or" uic h'-ulc 
 or Bourbon fat on theSpanifli tl-.ronc. Ti'.ai: 
 iuch a notion fhcnild have prevailed, in the 
 firfl conftlion ot" thouglits w!iir!i the death 
 and will or CHAKLKS tiic lecond produced, 
 among the generality <A i^en, \v!:u ir.\v t In- 
 flects ar.J. .irrries ot'l-'iance take poHelnoii 
 or all t!.e p:.ri^ or the Spaniih monarchv, 
 is not to be wondered at by thole that 
 cor.fider lur.v ill the r:ervral::y '-i" i^aiikii-.d 
 are infonr.ed, hov/ ir.> aj\uiK- t!:e\ are or 
 iud^inii;-, aiul yft how K.\;y tn propotincc 
 judirment ; in lif"' , h.nv iru o;,fi,!erately 
 they t')H"W one anoih<-r iii .ir.v nojuiai" 
 opinion w!::.-!'. t!>r I'.eai!^ of parts l>i(>av!,, 
 or to which the. i::!i aj'pearantr- <>r thi:i i> 
 have ^iven occafi-!n. Bu;, even attliis tiirr, 
 t!ic councils <>\ \'.\\^y\\\.\ ar. i 1 Inland c\\ 
 not entei 1.11:1 tliis i. <;;o,). 'I iu y .. ;.H : , . n 
 qiiitr an:>t!vr, ;ts MM;'!:' be Ilii wn m n.ai.y 
 IM^ n- rs, ;.' .:!'.', other bv(;dv t!.,;t o 1 ' ih-
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 309 
 
 grand alliance was neccflary. When thefe 
 councils therefore lecmcd to entertain this 
 notion afterwards, aiid acted and took en- 
 gagements to act upon it, we mud con- 
 clude tiiat they had other motives. They 
 could not have theie , for they knew, th.it 
 as the Spaniards had been driven by the two 
 treaties of partition to give their monarchy 
 to a prince of the houle of Bourbon, fo they 
 were driven into the arms of France by the 
 war that we made to iorce a third upon 
 them. If we acted rightly on the prin- 
 ciples of the grand aiiunce, they acted 
 rightly on thole of the will : and if we 
 tould not avoid making an orrenlive war, 
 at the expenoj of forming and maintaining 
 a vaft confederacy, they could not avoid 
 purchafing the protection and uffiltance of 
 France in a defenfive war, and especially 
 in the beginning of it, according to what 
 1 have lomewhere obiervcd already, by 
 yielding to the. authority and admitting the 
 influence of that court in all the atrairs of 
 their government. Our minilters knew 
 therefore, that if any inference was to be 
 .drawn from the firft part ot this notion, it 
 vvas tor fhortening, not prolonging, the war; 
 for delivering the Spaniards as loon as pof- 
 fible from habits ot union and intimacy with 
 J/rance , not for continuing them under the 
 U 3 hi me
 
 $io A Sketch of the His TORY Let, 8. 
 
 fame neccfikv, till by length of time thefe 
 habits mould be confirmed. As to the lat- 
 ter part of this notion, they knew that it 
 was fa HI* and filly. GARTH the beft na- 
 tured ingenious wild man I ever knrw, 
 might be in the ri;ht when he faid, in 
 Ibme of his poems at that time* 
 
 An Auftrian prince aionr, 
 Is fit to nod upon a Spamih throne. 
 
 The fetting an Auftri.in prince upon it 
 was, no doubt, the I'D reft expedient ro pre- 
 vent an union of the two monarchies of 
 France and Spain ; jurt as fcmng a prince 
 of the houlc of Bourbon on that throne 
 was the lurelt expedient to prevent an union 
 of the Imperial and Spamlh crowns. But 
 it was equally falfe to fay, in either cafe, 
 that this was the fole expedient. It would 
 be no paradox, but a proportion eafily 
 proved, to advance, that if thefe unions 
 had been effectually provided .igainft, the 
 general intereft of Europe would have been 
 little concerned whether PHILIP or CHARLES 
 had nodded at Madrid. It would be hke- 
 wifc no paradox to fay, that the contin- 
 gency of uniting France and Spain under 
 the fame prince appeared more remote, 
 about the middle o* the hit rc.tt war,
 
 Lct.8. andStateofEuRop'E. 311 
 
 when tlie dethronement of PHILIP in favor 
 f CHARLES was m ide a condition of peace 
 line qua non, than the contingency of an 
 union of the Imperial and Spamih crowns. 
 Nay, I know not whether it would be a 
 paradox to affirm, that the expedient that 
 was taken, and that was always obvious to 
 be taken, of excluding PHILIP and his race 
 from the iucccflion of France, by creating 
 an intcreft in all the other princes of the 
 blood, and by coniequence a party in 
 France itlelf, for their exclusion, whenever 
 the cafe fhould happen, was not in its na- 
 ture more effectual than any that could have 
 been taken : and foine mult have been ta- 
 ken, not only to exclude CHARLES froci 
 the empire whenever the cafe mould hap- 
 pen that happened foon, the death of his 
 brother JOSEPH without ifiue male, but his 
 poiterity likewife jn all future vacancies of 
 the imperial throne. The expedient that 
 was taken againft PHILIP at the treaty of 
 Utrecht, they who oppofed the peace at- 
 tempted to ridicule; but fome of them have 
 had occafion fmce that time to fee, tho the 
 cafe has not happened, how effectual it 
 would have been if it had : aad he who 
 Ihould go about to ridicule it after our ex- 
 perience, would only make himlelf ridicu- 
 lous. Notwithstanding all this he, who 
 U 4 t ran I ports
 
 $12 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 5. 
 
 tranfports himfrlf back to that time, mull 
 acknowledge, th.i: the conkucrated powers 
 in general could not but be of GARTH'S 
 mind, and think it more agreeable to the 
 common intereft of Europe, that a branch of 
 Auflria, than a branch of Bourbon, fhould 
 gather the Spamfh luccelTion, and that the 
 maritime powers, as they are called imper- 
 tinently enough with refpect to the fupe- 
 riority of Great Britain, might think it was 
 for their particular intcrelt to have a prince, 
 dependant for feme time at leall on them, 
 king of Spain, rather than a prince whole 
 dependence, as long as he flood in any, 
 rr.uft be naturally on [ ranee. I do not fay, 
 as Ionic have dune, a prince whole family 
 was an old ally, rather than a prince whole 
 f.invly was an old enemy -, becaufc I lay no 
 \vei^:.: on the gratitude of princes, and am 
 as u.uch periuaded that an Aultnan king 
 of Spain would have nude us returns or 
 that lort in no other proportion than of h:> 
 v.-^n: of u.% as I nm that I'HM.IP and hir> 
 race \vill make no other return > 01 the fame 
 forr to France. It thi/. aiiair hai! txen cr.- 
 r:re, therefore, on tlie death of the king of 
 SPAIN'-, ir we hail mad'- no p-aiutu>n, nor 
 he any will, the whole monunhy of Spain 
 v/o:jld have Incn thepn?e to be toii;i;t Jo: : 
 kr.d oi:r v:^- . .uiJ fi.> vfio;: ,. \\\- were
 
 Let.S. and State of EtfRoi*. 313 
 
 able to make, in the mofl. unprovided condi- 
 tion imaginable, mud have been on tiic fide 
 of Aullria. But it was far from being entire. 
 A prince of the houlc of Aultria might have 
 been on the fpor, berorc the king ot SPAIN 
 died, to gather his lucceilion , but initead 
 of this ;i prince ot die houle ot Bourbon 
 was there loon afterwards, and took, pof- 
 JcMion of the whole monarchy, to which he 
 had been called by the late king's will, and 
 by the voice of the Spamlh nation. The 
 councils of England and Holland therefore 
 preferred very wiiely, by their engagements 
 in the grand alliance, what was more prac- 
 ticable tho lefs eligible, to what they deemed 
 more eligible, but iaw become by the 
 courk: of events, it not. abfoluteiy impracti- 
 cable, yet an enterpriie of more length, more 
 difficulty, and greater expence of blood 
 and creature, than thefe nations were able 
 to bear , or than they ought to bear, when 
 their fecurity and that of the reft of Europe 
 might be iuificiently provided for at a 
 cheaper rate. It the confederates could not 
 obtain, by the force of their arms, the ends, 
 of the war, laid down in the grand alliance. 
 to what purpofc would it be to itipulate for 
 more ? And if they were able to obtain 
 thefe, it was evident that, whiltt they dii- 
 m timbered the Spanifli monarchy, the\ 
 
 mini.
 
 3H A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.S. 
 
 mull reduce the power of France. This 
 happened i the Low Countries were con- 
 quered , the French were driven out of 
 Germany and Italy : and Lr.vnr, the four- 
 teenth, who had lo long and lo lately let 
 mankind at defiance, was reduced to luc 
 for peace. 
 
 IP it had been granted him in one thon- 
 fand feven hundred and fix, on what foot 
 mud it have been granted ? The allies had 
 alicady in thrir power all the Hates that 
 were to compofe the reafonable fatisfaftion 
 for the emperor. I fay, in their power; 
 becaufc tho Naples and Sicily were not 
 actually reduced at that lime, yet the ex- 
 puiiion of the French out of Italy, and the 
 difpofition of the people of thole kingdoms, 
 eonfideicd, it was plain the allies mi^ht re- 
 duce them when they pleafed. The con- 
 federate arms were fuperior till then in 
 .Spain, and feveral provinces acknowledged 
 CHARLES the third. It the reit had been 
 yielded to him by treaty* all that the new plan 
 required had been obtained. If the French 
 would not yet have abandoned PHILIP, 
 as we had found that the Cnftilians wouki 
 not even \vfjen our army was at Madrid, all 
 that the old plan, the plan of the grand al 
 liance required, had been obtained ? bu' 
 
 fhii
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 315 
 
 itill France and Spain had given nothing to 
 purchate a peace, and they were in circum- 
 itanccs nut to expect it without purchafmg 
 it. They would have purchafed it, my lord : 
 and France, as well as Spain, would have 
 contributed a larger iharc of" the price, ra- 
 ther than continue the war, in her rxhaufted 
 itatc. Such a treaty of peace would have 
 been a third treaty of partition indeed, but 
 vaftly preferable to the two former. The 
 great objection to the former was drawn 
 from that coniiderable increalc of dominion, 
 which the crown of France, and not a 
 branch of the houfe of Bourbon, acquired 
 by thtm. 1 know what may be laid fpeci- 
 ouily enough to perluade, that fuch an in- 
 create of dominion would not have aug- 
 mented, but would rather have weakened 
 the power of Franc*, and what examples 
 may be drawn from hiftory to countenance 
 fuch an opinion. I know iikewiie, that the 
 compact figure ot France, and the conti- 
 guity of all her provinces, make a very cl- 
 iential part of ihe force of her monarchy. 
 Had the defigns of CHARLES the eighth, 
 LEWIS the twelfth, FRANCIS the finl, and 
 HENRY the fecond, fucceeded, the dominions 
 of France would have been more extenfive, 
 and I believe the drench of her monarchy 
 would have been lets. I have fonietimcs 
 
 riiougnt
 
 316 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 3. 
 
 thought that even -the lis of the bactic of 
 St. Qucr.tm, which obliged H E v R v the 
 <rcond to recal the duke of Gu VE with his 
 army out of Italy, was in this reflect no 
 unhappy event. But the realommz winch 
 ii. g<xxl, I think, when applied to thole 
 times, will not hold when .ipr-hcd to ours, 
 and to the caicr 1 confujcr l.cre ; the itatc 
 or .France, the ft.uc or her nr;^hbou:, and 
 the whole cor.ftitution or ! urope bcinp; lo 
 extremely chfkrent. 'J 'i,c objection there- 
 lore to the two treaties oi partition had JL 
 real weight. The power oi 1 rarce, deemed 
 already exorbitant, would have been m- 
 crcafcd by this accelHon ui dominion, in 
 the hands ot LEWIS the fourteenth: and 
 i he u!c he intended to make ot it by keep- 
 ing Italy and Spain m avse, appears in the 
 article th.it gtve him the t or:s en the 'J'm- 
 c-n coait, and tiie p,rov;r.ce (-1 ( juipi:!( o.i. 
 Tnis kir.^; WJI.MAM nii^lit, and, 1 qucllion 
 nor, did lee-, bi.r that pnnte miuht think 
 loo, tlut Tor tkis very re..lon LLWIS tiie 
 rourtccnth \vou!d adhere, ;n all events, to 
 the treaty or partition: aru! tiiat thefe con- 
 fecjuence.s were more remote, and would 
 he lefs dangerous, than thoie of mAir.jj; no 
 jMilt'K^n a: all. T/.e part.tion, even the 
 that n^u'i'.t ha\e lurn maJ.e, by a 
 o: ::; o:: r ' '.O'M.'nd icvcn tait^
 
 Let. 3. and State of EUROPE. 317 
 
 tired and fix, would have been the very re- 
 verie of rhis. France would have been 
 weakened, and her enemies ftrengthened, 
 by her concefilons on the fide of the Low 
 Countries, of Germany, and Savoy. If a 
 prince of her royal family had remained in 
 pollc-ilion ot Spain and the Weil-Indies, no 
 advantage would have accrued to her by it, 
 and effectual b.irs would have been oppofcd 
 to an union ofr the two monarchies. The 
 houle of Aullriu would have had a realbn- 
 able tarisfactioii tor that fhadow of ri^ht, 
 
 O * 
 
 which a tormer partition gave her. She 
 had no ether after the will of CHARLES the 
 iecond , and this may be juftly termed a 
 Irudovv, (nice Hngland, Holland, and France 
 could confer no real right to the Spanifh 
 lucccUrjn, nor to any part 01" it. She had 
 declined acceding to that partition, before 
 France departed from it, and v/ould have* 
 preferred the Italian provinces, without 
 Spain and the Weft-Indies, to Spain and 
 the Well -Indies without the Italian pro- 
 vinces. The Italun provinces would have 
 fallen to her fhare by thic partition. The 
 particular demands of England and Hol- 
 land would have fiiubred no difficulty, and 
 dink- that we \v>rre obliged by treaty to 
 rrukt; tor oihers wf^uLl have been ealy to 
 \Vjuld not til's hav-j been rncugh,
 
 318 A Sketch of die Hi STORY Let S. 
 my lord, tor the public fecurity, for the 
 common intcrett, and tor the glory of our 
 arms ? To have humbled and reduced, m 
 five campaigns a power that had dilhirbed 
 and iniuked Europe almoit forty years-, to 
 have rcllored, in fo Ihort a time, the ba- 
 lance or power in Europe to a lufficienc 
 point of equality, after it had been more 
 than fifty years, that is from the treaty of 
 \Vcftphulia, in a gradual deviation from this 
 point i in Ihort to have retrieved, in one 
 thoufand leven hundred and fix, a gair.e 
 that w;ts become deiperate at the beginning 
 of the century. To have done all this be- 
 fore the war had exhaulled our (Irength, 
 v.'us the utmoli lure that any man could dr- 
 fire who intended the public ^ood alone ; 
 ar,J no honei\ rcafon ever was, nor ever 
 wjil be given, uhy the war was protracted 
 any lonrj'jr; why wr neither made peate 
 after a liiort, vigorous and fuccel-Uil %s^r, 
 iior put it entirely out of the power ot 
 France to coniinvie at any rate a long unr. 
 1 Ijavc laid, and it :s true, tha: this had been 
 entirely out of her power, it we had given 
 greater interruption to the commerce ot Old 
 and New Spain, and if we had hindered 
 France irom importing annually, from the 
 year one thousand fevcn iuirv.rcvl and two, 
 :udi i:;::r;:-.nle treaJuu-r. u. Hi. i!id import 
 
 by
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 319 
 
 by the mips flic lent, with the permiflion of 
 Spain, to the South Sea. It has been ad- 
 ranccd, and it is a common opinion, thac 
 we were reitruincd by the jealoufy of the 
 Dutch from making ufe of the liberty given 
 by treaty to them and us, and which, with- 
 out his imperial majelly's leave, fmce we 
 entered into the war, we might have taken, 
 of making conquefts in the Spanifh Well- 
 Indies. Be it fo. But to go to the South. 
 Seas, to trade there if we could, to pillage 
 the Weil-Indies without making conquefts 
 if we could not, and, whether we traded or 
 whether we pillaged, to hinder the French 
 from trading there; was a meaiurc that 
 would have given, one ought to think, no 
 jealoufy to the Dutch, who might, and it is 
 io be iuppofed would, have taken their part, 
 in thefe expeditions j or if it had given 
 them jealoufy, what could they have re- 
 plied when a Britilh minifter had told them : 
 " That it little became them to find fault that 
 4 we traded with or pillaged the Spaniards 
 
 * in the Weft-Indies to the detriment of 
 ' our common enemy, whilit we connived 
 at them who traded with this enemy to 
 c his and their great advantage, againft our 
 1 remonstrances, and in violation of the 
 4 condition upon which we had given the 
 
 * iirft augmentation of our forces in the 
 
 * Low
 
 320 A Sketch of the His TORY Ltt.S. 
 * Low Countries ?' \Vc mi?ht have prr- 
 
 ^ > f 
 
 fued this mcalure notwithftanding any en- 
 gagement that we took by the- treaty with 
 Portugal, ir I remember that treaty right : 
 but inltead of this, we walk-d our forces, 
 and IquandtTcd millions aticr millions IP. 
 fupporung our alliance \virh this crown, 
 and in purlu'ni; ihr chimt-nc.il project which 
 was made the objec: of thsi alliance. I 
 call it chimerical, bec;.ufr t \va-, equally li>, 
 to expect a revolution in t.ivor of CHARI.: s 
 the third on the ikrv.'cr auihoiity of liich a 
 tn.Mer as the admiral or Caihle ; and, when 
 this failed u^, to hope t > conquer Spain by 
 the aifiltancc of the iWru i;e!e, and the 
 revolt of the Cataiaro. ^ ec tills wa. die. 
 foundation upon which the new plan ot the 
 war was built, a:vd lo rr.nnv r'ji:yj'.!\ e;"; 
 rnents were taken. 
 
 ']''- [larncnl.ir motive <; or pnv..:e :rr;i, 
 as v.\i! .t> (jj prunes ;UH> I 1 >tes to protract 
 the \\.ir, aie p.:r f jy k!i<*\v:i, runl p.irtlv 
 guelicJ, at this :i:i e. inn wluiuver ih.it 
 time comes, ;:r,;i I .:m perluadcd it will 
 come, when their Ice ret motives, their le 
 cret deli"iis, and iiuri-ni- s, can be l.i:d 
 Open, 1 prelume to i.y to your lord (hip 
 that the ir.oll confuiet. . ene or inii]Uii\, 
 and foilv, tint it poliible to imagine,
 
 Let. S. and State of EUROPE* 32! 
 
 will appear. In the mean while, if your 
 lord (hip confidcrs only the treaty of barrier, 
 as my lord TOWNSHEND figned it, without, 
 nay in truth, againft orders j tor the duke 
 ot MARLBOROUGH, tho joint plenipoten- 
 tiary, did not : it you confider the famous 
 preliminaries of one thoufand feveu hun- 
 dred and nine, which we nude a inock- 
 fhew of ratifying, tho we knew that they 
 v/ou'd not be accepted ; tor fo the marquis 
 of TOKCY luul told the pcnfionary before 
 he !cfr the Hague, as the laid marquis has 
 allured ;r,c very often lince that time: if 
 you er.C|Uire into the anecdotes of Gertruy- 
 denber:;, and if you confult other authrn- 
 tic papers that are extant, yoi;r lordfhip 
 \\ill fee the policy cf the new plan, I think, 
 in this light, j ho we had ivfufed, befjro 
 
 die war be^an, to enter into e.'i^agements 
 
 _ 
 
 for the conq uelt of Spain, yet as ibon as ic 
 began, when the rea'oa of tilings was Hill 
 rhe l';.ne, tcr the fucceis ot our firll cpm- 
 p:iign cannot tx- L.id to have altered it, we 
 enured into thrie very ens.rAL T err.ents. By 
 
 - O c^' / 
 
 fi'.c ire.ity wherein we took th.L- eng.-.^c:- 
 i 1 :- iiii iiiii, ro:TL!:"'al was brcu.-iir into ti^e 
 ;,:..:ii alliarue; rluit i^, the* confented to 
 !ver io:":r.:d able torce^ a^.iii'ilc l J MTLir, 
 : .,e <;r" I'n-iand and Holland, 
 
 CT 7 
 
 we v.'-;uki debar ourklves from 
 X n-ikinjc
 
 322 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. ft. 
 
 making any acquififions, and the houfc c 
 Auflria promiie, that (he fhould acquire 
 many important places in Spain, and an- 
 immcnfe cx;;nr ol country in America, 
 liy iujli bargains as this the whole confe- 
 deracy w-.n formed, and held together. 
 Such means were indeed erfcdual to mul- 
 tiply enemies to i-' ranee and Spain , but a 
 project lo cxtcnfive and io difficult as to 
 make many bargains of this kind necefian , 
 and neceflkry for a ji'eat number 01 years,, 
 and tor a very uncertain event, was a pro- 
 ject into which, tor thk> very reafon, Ln^- 
 land and Holland fliould not have entered. 
 1: is worthy your oblervation, my lord, tha' 
 ihele bad bargains *oi:id not have been 
 ecntinix-cij :i r ; they werj alrr.oil to our iir. 
 ::K\!ia:e riiin, it the war had not been j;n;- 
 r ;v.;-' vd ':;uler tlie prctendccl necefliry of re- 
 '!.'.- \\!'oic S;,.ir;;lh r.ujn.irrh v to tho 
 
 * m * 
 
 obcuienre of the hi;i;fe of Autlri.i. Now, 
 
 as nv.i o'.iur i.^nt.s.ic-r.tU 1 cxupt i'o: t;:;:al w.. ^ 
 to receivv his rccompviuc i)y 
 iHTiVi/nL <n v!i);:i:n;':!:s i.i Oi,: i 
 ti.c t ii'.-;i"i-nv/n f , v. r \->- k t) 
 v. !, .lo ir.o;..irchv i..:.!
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 323 
 
 immediate and certain advantages, for re- 
 mote and uncertain hopes \ and chufe to 
 attempt die mnqueft of the Spanilh nation 
 at our own vail cxpence, whom we might 
 have ftirvt-Jj and by Itarving reduced 
 both the French and them, at their ex- 
 pence. 
 
 I CALLED the necefTity of reducing the 
 whole Spanifh monarchy to the obedience 
 of the houle of Aultria, a pretended ne- 
 Cffiicy : and pretended it was, not reaJ, 
 without doubt. But I am apt to think 
 your lord (hip may go further, and find 
 fome reafons to fufped, thr.t the opinion 
 itlelf of this nccefTity was net very real, in 
 the riinds of thole who iimcd it : in the 
 minds I would lay of the able men among 
 them j for that it was real in ibme of our 
 zealous Britilh politicians, I do them the 
 juftice to believe. Your lordlhip may rind 
 reaibns to fufpeft perh-ips, that this opinion 
 was let up rather to occafion a diverfion of 
 tiie forces of France, and to furnifh pre- 
 trnces for prolonging the war for other 
 ends. 
 
 BLFORE the year one thoufa.id feveri 
 
 hindred and ten, the war was kept alive 
 
 *Mr!'. .ikjrnaie fucc^ls in hpain i ;;uj it may 
 
 X 2 be
 
 c, 24 A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.S. 
 
 be laid therefore, tii.ir the defip;n of con- 
 quering this kingdom continued, as well 
 us the hopes of lucccedinp. But why then 
 did the States (ier.er.il rciule, in one thou- 
 far.d lever, hundred and nine, to adrv.it an 
 article in the barrier-treaty, by which they 
 would have obliged thcmielvcs to procure 
 the wh'jle Sp.inilh mon.'.rc hy to the houfc 
 oi Aul;."!;:, v.:.'.ii ih;it /ealous j^oiiiici.ia 
 my loal 'i O\VNMI::NU j rtlfed their, to i: : 
 If their opinion of the nrecfsity of can-. - 
 ing on the war, till th.s point could be ob- 
 tained, was real-, why did they rilquc tlie 
 nnmenie advantages ;-.iven them \v:th li> 
 rnuc!i proiulc |:er.er<;f;'y by tin's treaty, ra- 
 ther than conknt to an e:':.:a^eirejit i! .-.c 
 wa- io coniu; ;;:able to ihur opinicr. ? 
 
 A. : LH liic year one thov:iand fivci, !,;,n- 
 dr^el .:;.d te:\ it will in, i t\- f.iiJ, I jJi-el'ii.T.e, 
 lliat ti;e \v.:r C'ii:!d be lup-j^o; I-.H! ir. S'\in\ 
 with .tii) p;*-!;^--! o; ;:dvai.t.i. on ou;- i: \\ 
 \\"e ii.u ; r.tiy i >.; i ; in.f^d h..\v lr.;!i. 
 
 (ifpriiuv !.(. c louid be i...vi < 'i the vi::< r < i 
 the I'oiLU; v;eie ; .'.nc !:"\\ l.riiil, t!;c .Sj .;r,;l!i 
 ; ', t v- (. .:i'.ii;..: in .;;, i,- 
 
 L
 
 T.ct.8. and State of E UROPT:. 325 
 
 the victorious, all v/ifhed and aitcd for the 
 vanqulflied. In fhort the falfhood of all 
 thole lures, by which we had been enticed 
 to make war in Sp-un, h.td appeared fuf- 
 ficiently in one thouLiul i<-ven hundred and 
 fix ; but was lb [;rofly evident in one thou- 
 iand ievcn hundred and ten, that Mr. 
 Cuuccs, who was lent towards the end of 
 tlmt year by Mr. STAN HOP;: into Eng- 
 land, on commifllons which lie executed 
 with much good fcnie and much ad- 
 drefs, owned to me, th:U, in Mr. STAM- 
 HOPE'S opinion, and he W.H not apt to de- 
 Ipond ot luccels, efpecially in tiie execu- 
 tion of his own projects, nothing could be 
 done more i;i Spain, t!ie ^ ;irral attach- 
 ment ot the people to PHJLIF, and their 
 averfion toCHA'u.Es conlidered : that armies 
 ot twenty or thirty thoufand men ir/ight 
 walk about that country till dooms-','. ;y, lo 
 lie expreifed himfelf, without eirect : that. 
 v.-herever they came, the people would fub- 
 i^ii LO CHAHLLS tl:e third out of terror, 
 :;r.d, as loon ;>s they \verc gone, pi\X:.ii:n 
 I'iULir the inth aain out of afilcl on : tlr.ic 
 
 to conquer Spain required a L 
 
 LO ee ;: a reater. 
 
 VN'AS it poinble, after ::ii ; , to th: 
 j.i Ci'.rr.eiV ot cor,quer;r.:- 
 
 -3
 
 ^20 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. S. 
 
 could they br in pood earncft \vho cor,:i- 
 nued to hold the Ume hn^uaoje, and t-. 
 infift on the fame meafurcs ? Could thry 
 be lo in the following year, when the em- 
 peror JOSEPH died ? CHARLES was become 
 then the Ible furviving male of the he.uiV 
 of Auftria, and fucceeded to the empire as 
 \vell as to all the hereditary dominions of 
 that family. Could they be in e.imell who 
 maintained, even in this conjuncture, that 
 " no peace could be fafe, honorabh-, or 
 ct lading, fo long as the kingdom of Spain 
 " and the Well -Indies remained in the 
 ct pofTc-fTi'-ip of any branch of the iv.aiic of 
 " Bourbon?" Did they mean that CH \RLES 
 fhould h" < ir.peror and king of Spain r I:i 
 this pr-jtcl. tlicy would hnv< h.ici tiiv r.il-.is 
 apa : iill them. Did tlu-y nsran ro rail i!.e 
 duke of S.\vov to t'.c cro\vn oi Spii:', or 
 ro bellow it <.;i ibme r!/ r j ri. u :' ];: tins 
 project t!u-v would h;:ve h.ul hi*. !TJ -rial 
 mai; lly r{j -\\\\\ them. I;i ( ; '!,<r c..l" ilic 
 font? 'kT2!.'Y ;vr '.'('. !,:,T :c<] i : 1 , ;. : '.,J K ! 
 
 \v.ir ? I>:i ill''. ii".< :: i! :!i:n", or did t! ; - v 
 n";e.4, loriietiiin *, n'.ore tli.ii ;|KA 07, .; , 
 ibm< thing m ..;(. tii..n to n\: if r . ex- :h;- 
 tant j " ( r "t I ;.:; 1 
 
 whole ^r.".r..f} - . :;. M..ui :. . ,, -', <. 
 
 of Bouibr
 
 Lt't.S. anciState cfE URO-PE. 327 
 
 BOTH thcfe ends might have been ob- 
 tained at Gcrtruydenbcrs. Why were they 
 not obtained ? Kead the preliminaries of 
 one thoufandieven hundred and nine, which 
 were made tle foundation of this treaty. 
 Inform yourfclf of what pafled there, and 
 oblerve what followed. Your lordfhip \vill 
 remain aftoniflied. I remain lo every time 
 I reflect upon them, tho 1 law thefc things 
 at no very greu diftancc, even whiltt they 
 were in tranlaction , and tho I know mott 
 certainly that France lo!t, two yeais before, 
 by the little fkill and add re is of her princi- 
 pal * minifter, in aniwering overtures made 
 during the liege of Liile by a principal 
 periba among the allies, fueh an opportu- 
 nity, and fuch a correfpondence, as would 
 have removed fome of the obitacles that lay 
 .HOW in her way, have pteverred oLhers, and 
 have procured her oeace. An equivalent 
 fc>r the thirty-ieventh article of ti.e prcii- 
 HHp.iii-ie?, that is tor the ceili >n oJ: Spain 
 and i!ij Well:- In. lies, v, as the point to be 
 ihkufll'd .it Gertruydenberg. Napks and 
 ';.'_ ;ly, or ev.n N..p":es and Sardinia would 
 lutvo conf-'iH-rd the French, at leafc ';I?e'* 
 W')'.\l i iuve accej'ted tiie.n a> t'^.e eq'.iiv.i- 
 cnt. Euvs and VAXDHKU.USSEJC , who 
 
 ,\i!L1 A K. r .
 
 528 A Sketch of the Hi STORY I.et.S, 
 
 treated with them, reported this to the 
 miniftcrs of the allies : ar.l it was upon 'his 
 cccr.frm ti:at the duke of MAKLBOROIT.U, 
 as Ek'vs himfclf told me, took immediately 
 the 1- ad, and congratulated the affeir.bly on 
 the near approach of a peace ; faid, th.u 
 fmcc the French were in this diipofuion, 
 it vms rime to confidcr \v!\:t further c'e- 
 rr.andx fncnild be made upon ihc.T,, accord- 
 ing to the libeity '^bltrvtd in t!\j preim.i- 
 n:ric>; :::vJ exhorted .:!! tlic in r.illers of 
 the all;-. s to adiull their i'-veral ulteri';r pic- 
 nii'jns, and to prepare their demands. 
 
 Tins pr(;C(ei:inci, and wl-..u f-llr/,\r\!, put 
 me i:i innul of that of the f\oir.. t :,s \v;;li the 
 Carthaginians. The foriTv. r v.erc rcu:'vcd 
 to cor.lcnt to no j)eace till Carthage \v.:s 
 I 1 .;:', ir. :\i\r. ,. Tiny ki a treaty hr:v.-c-ver 
 on i>).,r, at tl'.e ra]in \\ of t!,.-,r ol, J c:v :nv, 
 inij^-iv- ! ;or,A- trr:r, , :>. d ic'irir. >! i!u-;n :o 
 tiicir f'-j,ciaU I-.;' '!..-: i 1 . '.! 
 
 ;-; ; l a r'.-,! 1 ' of iii. 
 i;icy rciiuiid ti.c C' 
 l!.c j > ii.iv <>r iii). 1 .!!'. 
 C'.'iii.niii;, r ih' \v.:r ;
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 329 
 
 FRANCE faw the fnare, and refolvcd to 
 run any rifque rather than to be caught in 
 it. \Ye conrinucd ro demand, under pre- 
 tence <>r kiiinng the ccllion of Spain and 
 tiic We (I -Indies, that J.nwis the four- 
 teenth fliould take on him to dethrone his 
 grandfon in the (pace of two months - t and, 
 if he did not effect i: in that time, that we 
 Ihould be at liberty to renew the war with- 
 out reltoring the pkuvs that were to be put 
 into our hands according to the prelimina- 
 ries j which were tiic moil important places 
 F'rance polfeiled on the fide of the Low 
 Countries. LEWIS offered to abandon his 
 grandfon ; and, if he could not prevail on 
 him to retign, to furniih money to the al- 
 lies, who might a: the expence of France 
 force him to evacuate Spain. The propo- 
 lition made by the allies had an air of inhu- 
 manity : and the retl of mankind might be 
 Iho'-ke.i to fee the grandfather obliged to 
 make war on his grandfon. But LLWJS 
 the fourteenth had treated mankind with 
 too much inhumanity in his proinerous 
 days, to have any re a ton to complain even 
 of i ; '.is proportion. His people indeed, 
 who are ape to have great parti.ility 
 their kings, might rity his diitrcfs. 
 happened, and he found \\j accoun: i
 
 A Sketch of theH r STORY Let.S. 
 PHILTP mud have evacuated Spain, I think, 
 norwithftanding his ownobftinary, the jp:nt 
 of his queen, and the reioiute attachment 
 of the Spaniards, if hi> grandfather hail m- 
 fifled, and been in eair.db to torn- Inm. 
 Bur if this expedient was, as it was, odious, 
 \vhv did we prefer to conri'iue the war 
 againit France and Spain, raihcr than ac- 
 cept the oihcr ? \Yhy did we- r.,.J.ct the 
 opportunity of reducing, tacCtuJiy and 
 immediately, t'ie exorbitant power of 
 France, aiid of tendering the coujueft of 
 <Spain practicable : both which might luvc 
 been brought about, and confoqucntly the 
 avowed ends of the war might have been 
 anlwcred, by accepting the expedient that 
 } 'Vance offered. " France" it uas faid, 
 *' was not finccre : (he meant nothing n.orc 
 * c tiian to mufe, r.nd divicie. This rt.:! : )n 
 was given at the time ; bu: fome oi tho.e who 
 cave it then, I have let ;< afliamed to iniitt on 
 it fmce. France was not in a condition to a.:i 
 the part fhe had a<^led in fonr.er tix.uies : 
 end her diftrtfs was no bad pledge of her 
 fincerity on this occafion. But iiuie wa^ 
 a better ftill. The (Ironp j.laces that flu- 
 mud have put into the hands <>i the all:-, . 
 would have fxpofed her, on the I'-.ill bre.n !. 
 of faith, to ice, not her frontier r.lone, 1-..: 
 even :hc r;'Cv;::;cs t!:;;t :': ;>v:: ./' ::, di-!o-
 
 Let. H. and State of KUKOTE. 331 
 
 luted: and prince EUGENE might have had 
 the fat isf action, it i:; laid, I know not hovtf 
 truly, he dvlircd, of marching with the 
 torch in his hand to Veriailles. 
 
 YOUR h>rdfh:p will o'..!<,rvc, that the 
 conferences at GertruydenlxT}' ending in the 
 m.ir.r.er they did, the inflexibility or the al- 
 lies gave new life and ipirit to the French 
 and Spanijh nations, dirtrclf'd and ex- 
 hauftcd as they were. The troops of the 
 former withdrawn out or Spain, and the 
 Spaniards left to defend the:i;irlvcs as they 
 could, tlic -Spaniards alone obliged us to 
 retreat trom Madrid, and defeated us in 
 our retreat. But your lordfhip may think 
 perhaps, as I do, that if LEWIS the four- 
 teenth had bound himfelf by a folemn trea- 
 ty to abandon his grandibn, had paid a 
 i\;blidy to dethrone him, and had con- 
 fentcd to acknowledge another kinir of 
 
 o o 
 
 Spain, tlx- Spaniards would not have ex- 
 tr:ed the faiiie /cai for PHILIP; the actions 
 of Almenara ar:d Saragofla might have been 
 dc'Ciiive, and thofe of Briiuieira and Villa 
 
 * O 
 
 Viciola would not have happened. After 
 all thefe events, how could any reafonable 
 man expect that a war mould be iupported 
 v. [!) L-dvant.-.ge in Spain, to which the court 
 '^i Vic.T,r,n had contributed nothing from the 
 
 firft.
 
 ^32 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 firft, fcarce bread to ilair archduke; which 
 Portugal waged family and with dcikiei.: 
 quotas-, and which the Putch h.ui in a 
 manner renounced, In- r,e;/ .Mir.. 1 ; :o re- 
 cruit their forces? Mow was CIIARLLS to 
 be placed on the Spanifh throne, or PHILIP 
 at lealt to be driven out oi it ." by t.ic h:c- 
 ce.'s ot t!ic contedenue .iriMs in other parts. 
 But whar fucccfs li:.';;^:.-:ii to this pu: pole, 
 could we cxpeci? This (jucllion r.uv be 
 anlwcrcd belt, by Hicwin^ what fucccik we 
 had. 
 
 PoRjrr.AL and Savoy did nothing be- 
 fore the death of the emperor JOSLPH , and 
 declarrd in tonn, as iouii as he was dead, 
 that they would carry on the war no longer 
 
 to I'-t the crown ot Spain on the head or 
 CHA:I i.-.s, imre this v. ould i)e to ti^hr 
 srr.iM.lt ti;e \-cry principle iiey had fought 
 tor. The Rii;;.e wa , a iecne ot i;;a:tion. 
 The fole cflorts, that v. c:e t> brln;; aboi.i 
 the great rveiit ol dcthioning Pmui 1 , \u;e 
 thole which the duke or M AKLP.OKOI'OH 
 was able to make, lie to(;l; three umr. . 
 in cr.e thouiand (even hundred and tin, 
 A ire, Ik-'.hr.:::', and .Si. Venant : a::.i or; ., 
 Uotii i:.ii;i, in one tli'j^l.tnd K-ven i'/.-.r..:!''/.! 
 '.rid ciev, n. Nov.- t.'.i, <.^..(.v-lt. \\ ::; ::i
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 333 
 
 that year, Bouchain may be faid properly 
 and truly to have coil our nation very near 
 leven million.'; ilerlingj lor your lordfhip 
 will find, I believe, that the charge of the 
 war for that year amounted to no lels. Ic 
 is true that the duke of MARLBOROUGH had 
 propofed a very great project, by which in- 
 curiions would have been made during the 
 winter into France ; the next campaign 
 might have been opened early on our lide ; 
 and feveral other great and obvious advan- 
 tages mi<:ht have been obtained-, but the 
 J)uteh refilled to contribute, even lefs than 
 t'icir proportion, for the queen had offered 
 to rake tiie delicicncy on hcrfelf, to the ex- 
 pence of barracks and iorage ; and dilap- 
 pointed by tiieir obitinacy the whole de- 
 
 WE were then amufed with v'fionary 
 fchemes of marching our \v!iole army, in a 
 year or two more, and after a town or nvo 
 more were tiken, directly to Pari^, or r.t 
 leail inio tiie iicart ot France. But w.is 
 this fj eafy or io fure a cj.inie : The 1-Vencfi 
 e::pcJi::-d we would play ir. Tiieir generals 
 h-.d v ill red the levcral pofls they might 
 Ta';e, v.'!;t:;; cur army lluul-.i en:er Frar^e, 
 to roLa-d, D ir.commoJe, to diilrcis us i;i 
 o.:r n.a-.Ji, and eve,: to ir.ake a dc
 
 334 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let.??. 
 Ham! r.nd to give us battle. I take wh.'.t I 
 lay here fiom indilputable authority, tht 
 of the perfons conlultod and employed m 
 prepanii:; for this great diftreis. 1 lad v, e 
 bet:i beaten, or had we been toiccd to le- 
 tire towards our o-.vn frontier in tlv Low 
 Countries, after penetrating into l-'runt<% 
 the hopes or, \vhi' h we protracted the war 
 would have been difappointcd, and, 1 thin!;, 
 the moft fanguinc would have then repentid 
 rttiifing :hf offers made at Gcrcruydenbcr^:. 
 Ku: if we had beaten the 1'Yem h, for it w^s 
 Jcarce lawtul in tlioic days of our prefump- 
 tion to fuppofc the contrary , would the 
 whole monarchy of Spain have been ot:r 
 immediate and certain prize ? Suppole, ar.d 
 1 fuppolc :t on ^-ood grounds, my 1-trd, 
 tliat the Frcnrh Iiad refolved to defend 
 their country inch by inch, and that LEWI ; 
 the fourteenth had determined to retire with 
 his ccuirt to Lions or elfewhcre, and to i!e- 
 lend the pafiage of the Loire, when he 
 could no longer defend that of the Seine, 
 r.it'ier t'un lubmit to the terms impoled 
 on iiim : what mould we have lione in th::; 
 talc? Muft we not have accepted ilk I 1 , a 
 peace as we had rcfi/.frd ; or have protracted 
 the war till we had conquered I-'r.iiue firlt, 
 in order to conquer Sj a:n .1:^ rv.arJs ? Did 
 we h'-c tor revolutions ::i 1'ranee? \\ e
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 335 
 
 had hoped for them in Spain : and we 
 (hould h.wo been bubbles of our hopes in 
 both. That there was a fpirit railed againit 
 the government of LEWIS the fourteenth, 
 in h;s c:rjrr, nay in his family, and that 
 ftran^c Ichcmes of private ambition were 
 formed and forming there, I cannot doubt : 
 and lome effects of this fpirit produced per- 
 haps the grcatcil mortifications that he fuf- 
 fercd in the Litter part of his reign. 
 
 A LIGHT inflance of this fpirit is all I 
 will quote at this time. I flipped, in the 
 year ore thousand icven hundred and iif- 
 tcen, at a houlc in France, where two * 
 perions of no fmall figure, who had been 
 in great company that nighr, arrived very 
 iate. The converfation turned on the events 
 or the precedent war, and the negotiations- 
 of the Lite peace, in the proccfs of the con- 
 verfation, one of them 7 broke loofe, and 
 faid, diredling his difcourfe to me ? " Vous 
 44 auriez pu nous ecrafer dans ce terns la : 
 ** pourquoi ne Favez-vous pas fait ?' I 
 anfwered him cooly, " Par ce que dans cc 
 cc tems-li nous n'avons plus craint 'Votre 
 " puilf^ncc." This anecdote, too trivial for 
 hiftury, may rind its place in a letter, and 
 
 ' The viuhj Je LA FEUIJ.LAOE and MORTK.^.JAR. 
 
 t LA : ; .ic ILIADS* 
 
 may
 
 336 A Sketch of tiieHisTORY Let. 5. 
 
 may iVrvv to co;.!:rm what I have admitted, 
 that there- u< iv j rlor.s even in IT.: nee, who 
 expected to fnul their private account in the. 
 diltrds or their country. Hut thele pcrluns 
 wrc a kw, men or wild imaginations ami 
 llrong paflions, ir,o;v fiucrprizing than ca- 
 pable, ant! ot'moie i.ame than c ret! it. In ge- 
 neral the endeavours or Lf. v.is t!;e lour- 
 teeaih, and tiie l/.LT.frjci lie oHeicJ to nuk^t 
 in order to obtain a ;>eato, h.ul atratlied iiis 
 j'.e .p!c more than cvrr to iii:r. : and ii 
 i...v.r, had determined not to LO farther 
 tlian he had olTerv J a: Ga truvdcnberg, in 
 abandoning lr,^ ^r..i-,d:on, ti:e 1-icncli na- 
 tion would not have al:.;;,d'jr,:-d h::n. 
 
 lit r to rc'k;:r.-j v. h.u I have laid or hir.ral 
 alre.idy , tl'.e iivvcii^; y conietjuentfs oi po- 
 tra-ling ihe war ii .r,!c-rto dethrone i'mur, 
 from t!;e year o:;e t:iui:lai'.d leven l.i::v.!red 
 and ekvcp. incit:!iv>-!\, could be r..) c::.vr 
 t!ian tl.ck : our dc::, n ur per.i tr.tiin L ' ;i.;o 
 1- ranee ni: c '!.i IK.V; lx\.-! ilc ic.itcd, .vu! h..\e 
 Ivcoire f;:r.tl to ii - !\s a r\ verle cji iortune : 
 our iirfl lucieis !;::, 'it not have obliged t:u- 
 French tolubrr.:ti and v.e n.i^Iit li..ve h.ad 
 l-'rance to conquer, ..llcr \\e had Jaded :n 
 our iirll atrcmj-t m cciMjuer Sjai!>, and 
 even in t r :'-r tojM'Trtd ta iccoi;tl : ll>c 
 1-ri-n. li rr.^V'.t have luliinilted, ar.d the 
 
 Spaniards
 
 L>et. 8. and State of EUROPE. 337 
 
 Spaniards not-, and whilil the former had 
 been employed to force the latter, accord- 
 ing to the fchemc of the allies; or whilft, 
 the latter fubmitting likewife, PHILIP had 
 evacuated Spain, the high allies might hav^ 
 gone together by the ears about dividing 
 the Ipoil, and diipofmg of the crown of 
 Spain. To thele ilVues were things brought 
 by protracting the war ; by refilling to 
 make peace, on the principles of the grand 
 alliance at worlt, in one thoufand leven 
 hundred and iix ; and by refufmg to gran: 
 it, even on thole of the new plan, in one 
 thoufand fcvcn hundred and ten. Sucli 
 contingent events as I have mentioned ftood 
 in prolpcdt befoie us. The end of the war 
 was removed out of light ; and they, who 
 clamoured rather than argued for the con- 
 tinuation of it, contented themfclves to 
 affirm, that France was not enough reduced, 
 and that no peace ought to be made as long 
 as a prince of the houfe of Bourbon re- 
 mained on the Spanifh ihrone. When 
 they would think France enough reduced, 
 it was impofliblc to guefs. "Whether they 
 intended to join the imperial and Spanifh 
 crowns on the head or CH^RLLS, who had 
 declared his irrevocable relolut'um to con- 
 tinue the War till die conditions infilled 
 u : ,on a: Gmruydenberg -.vcrc obtained : 
 Y whuher
 
 358 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Lct.S. 
 
 whether they intended to beftow Spain and 
 the Indies on Jome other prince : and how 
 this great alteration in their own plan 
 fhould be effected by common content : 
 how pofleffion mould be given to CHARLES, 
 or to any other prince, not only of Spain 
 but of all the Spanifh dominions out of 
 Europe, where the attachment to PHILIP 
 was at leait as ilrong as in Cailile, and 
 where it would not be fo caly, the diftann- 
 and extent of thefc dominions coniiJered, 
 to oblige the Spaniards to lubmit to an..- 
 ther government : Thclc points, and many 
 more equally ncceli.:ry to be determined, 
 and equally dif:i' ult to prepare, were ra- 
 ther determined nor prepaicdj ib that we 
 were retiuced to carry on the war, after the 
 death of the emperor JOTF-M, without any 
 pofiuve khcme agreed to, as tl.e fchemr (-1 
 tlie future peace, by the allirs. That of the 
 pr.ir.d ;:ii..:rce \\c ad l;;iH T before re- 
 nounced. Th.at of the new plan v.as be- 
 come inel'iLfiHe-, an, 1 , ii it IKH'- :. eligible, 
 it would have been impracticable, beiaule 
 (./i":!;c \.!iv:fi<M' it v<'uK! !.:.ve created anK.nj'; 
 the ::!li'/-. t! ' ' i'-'^" I'/vcral t \\hom 
 v.-cui i n ( t ii.i-. " ', k')t\\ithllam!- 
 
 ii^ i;. , : -p, t!i..t the cm- 
 
 j ; : KJ;- 1' 1 kn-.w 
 
 not v.ii.ii .i:i tie I..::'..;:.:, or :he w.tr.
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 339 
 
 in the depth of their policy, intended w 
 cake. Our nation had contributed, and 
 acted lo long under the direction of their 
 councils, tor the grandeur ot the houfe of 
 Aultria, like one ot" the hereditary king- 
 doms ukirped by that family, that it is la,w- 
 ful to think their intention might be to 
 unite the Imperial and Spanifh crowns. 
 But I rather think they had no very deter- 
 minate view, beyond that of continuing 
 the war as long as they could. The late 
 lord OXFORD told me, that my lord So- 
 MLRS being p retted, 1 know not on \vhan 
 occafion nor by whom, on the unnecefTary 
 and ruinous continuation of the war -, m- 
 itead of giving reafons to mew the necef- 
 iky of it, contented hirr.Llf to reply, tha,t 
 he had been bred up in a hatred of France. 
 This \va^ a itrange reply for a wife man: 
 and yet I know not whether he could have 
 given a better then, or whether any of his 
 pupils could give a better now. 
 
 THE whig party iag^n^ral acquired great 
 r;nd jiiit popularity, in the reign of our 
 CHARLES the lecoiul, by the clamor they 
 railed ;igainit the conduct of that prince in 
 foreign affairs. Thi.y who luccceded to 
 the ;u:r.e rarluT than the principle of th;. 1 ; 
 i>..rtv. after the revnivr.io.i, ;ir..i wiio have 
 Y ?. l-.nd
 
 540 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 3. 
 
 had the adminiftration of the government 
 in their hands with very little interruption 
 ever finer, pretending to act on the lame 
 principle, have run into an extreme as vi- 
 cious and as contrary to all the rules of 
 good policy, as that which their prcdccel- 
 fors exclaimed againft. The old whigs 
 complained of the inglorious figure we 
 made, whilll our court was the bubble, 
 and our king the penfioner of France j and 
 infilled that the growing ambition and 
 power of LEWIS the fourteenth fhould be 
 oppofed in time. The modern whigs 
 boalted, and itill boait, of the glorious 
 figure we made, whillt we reduced ourlelves, 
 by their councils, and under their admi- 
 niftrations, to be the bubbles of our pen- 
 fioners, that is of our allies , and whillt 
 we mealurcd our efforts in war, and the 
 continuation of them, without any regard 
 to the interefts and abilities of our own 
 country, without a jiMt and lober regard, 
 fuch an one as contemplates objects in their 
 true light and lees them in their true mag- 
 nitude, to the general lyltem of power in 
 Furope-, and, in Ihorr, w;;h a principal 
 regard nvrely to paruful.ir ir.ttKlt.s .:t 
 home and abroad. I l.iy at l.ome and 
 abroad; brv .u.ie it i. not lei's iru--, i!..t 
 t!:ey have Ix^nliccd the \\cahii ot the;:
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 341 
 
 try to the forming and maintaining a party 
 at home, than that they have done io to 
 the forming and maintaining, beyond all 
 pretences of neccflky, alliances abroad. 
 Thcic general aflertions may be eafily ju- 
 Itiried without having recourle to private 
 anecdotes, as your lordfhip will find when 
 you condder the whole fcries of our con- 
 duct in the two wars ; in that which pre- 
 ceded, and that which fucceeded imme- 
 diately the beginning of the prelent centu- 
 ry, but above all the laft of them. In 
 the adminiftrations that preceded the revo- 
 lution, trade had flourished, and our na- 
 tion had grown opulent : but the general 
 intereft of Europe had been too much ne- 
 glected by us -, and flavery, under tiie um- 
 brage of prerogative, had been well nigh 
 eftablifhed among us. In thole that have 
 followed, taxes upon taxes, and debts upon 
 debts have been perpetually accumulated, 
 till a ihi.tll r.LjrabLT c;i families have grown 
 into imiiiuiie wealth, and national beg- 
 gary has b'.-cn brought upon us , under the 
 fpecious pretences ot luppornng a common 
 caule a^ainit France, reducing her exor- 
 bitant power, and poifing that of liurope 
 more equally in tiic public balance : lau- 
 dable delimits no cloubt, as iar as they were 
 real, but iuth as, being converted inio 
 Y mere
 
 342 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 8. 
 
 mere pretences have been productive of 
 touch evil , fomc of which we feel and 
 h^vc long felt, and fome will extend ir's 
 confcquenccs to our latcft pofteriry. The 
 reign of prerogative was fhort : and the 
 evils and the dangers, to v.liich wr were 
 rxpofed by it, ended with it. Hut the reign 
 rf fuller and Squandering policy has laded 
 Jong, it hfh (till, and v.ill fm.iJIy com- 
 plete our ruin. Beggary has been the con- 
 fpquence ol "ilavery in lome countries : flave- 
 ry \v:!l be probably the conk-quencc of 
 bi'pr:irv in our.s -, and if it is lu, we know 
 ru who!'.- doer to lay it. If we had linifhH 
 r!vj war in one thouland lev en huncirrd r.r.d 
 l;.v, we fliould havt % reconciled, like n \v:;^ 
 people, oi'r f(Me:;;n ami our dorreftic in- 
 terells :i r nearly as poSTible : we fhould 
 i:.:vr fecurcd the former fufF.cientiy, :'.;:-! 
 n:-t have J.KT : [:.\d the l.Hter ..s ( nr-rely .r, 
 we i!u! l>v th.tr prolirution ot liic w:-.r ai;iT- 
 w.irds. You v.ill n"r I-L- .ible t-> U s uiin- 
 ( lit :'.ftor:i(hmei,r, htr.v tlif cii.:;*- -l ihv 
 v/.ir e :*..';( r.Icd ye.irly rj-on i;^ IKMII the hv- 
 p-;in;i*. T .'.r ir ; r.r.r hov, irr.n-ci 1: .1 !um v.e 
 pr.id id ;'.-/ t ot.rie ot it tn I'..;-; ly ti.e dcti-
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 343 
 
 was made from the year one thoufand (even 
 hundicd and fix exclusively, with theexpence 
 of more than thirty million?, I do not exag- 
 gerate tho I write upon memory, that this 
 progrcrfs colt us, to the year one thoufand 
 feven hundred and eleven inclufively. 'Upon 
 this view, your lordlhip will be perfuaded 
 that it was high time to take the refolu- 
 tion of making peace, when the queen 
 thought fit to change her minitlry, towards 
 the end of the year one thoufand feven hun- 
 dred and ten. It was high time indeed to 
 fave our country from abfolute infolvency 
 and bankruptcy, by putting an end to a 
 icheme of conduct, which the prejudices 
 of a party, the whimfy of fome particular 
 men, the private interetl of more, and the 
 ambition and avarice of our allies, who 
 had been invited as it were to a fcramble 
 by the preliminaries of one thoufand fevea 
 hundred and nine, alone maintained. The 
 perfons then-fore, who e.une into power at 
 this time, hearkened, and they did well to 
 hearken, to the nrft overtures that were 
 made them. The difpolition ot their ene- 
 mies invited :lv m to do io, but that of 
 their friends, an. I that of a party at homo 
 who had miried, and been nuned by the 
 war, mio;ht h.ivc deterred them from ii -, 
 iur the UitHcukies and dangers, to which 
 V 4 t'lev
 
 A Sketch of thr HISTORY Let. 8. 
 
 they mufr. be expofed in carrying forward 
 this great work, could elcape none of them. 
 In a letter to a friend it may be allowed 
 me to fay, that they did not efcapc me: 
 and that I forefaw, as contingent but not 
 improbable event*:, a ^cod part or what has 
 happened to me fince. Tno it was a duty 
 thcrtlore that we owed to our country, to 
 deliver her from the neccfTity of bearing 
 any longer fo unequal a part in fo unnecef- 
 fary a war, yet was there fome decree of 
 merit in prrforming it. I think fo ft-ong- 
 ly in this manner, I am fo incorrigible, 
 my lord, that if I could be placed in the 
 fame circumilanccs again, I would take the 
 fame refolutiop, and ;;Ct the lame parr. 
 Age and exprunce might enable me to 
 act with nv>:e nbiiity, and greater Ikill , 
 but all I have fuficrcd fince the dr.uh of 
 the queen fVnuld not hin-irr me from .i/V- 
 ing. Notwithstanding this, 1 fn.:!l not be 
 furprife.i if )<>u flunk fh;:t the peace or 
 Vtrrrht was nor aniwnnbie to the fiu eel's 
 r.; tlii- war, r.r;r to the cl;-.:'i> made in it. 
 I thi r i!^ M myieit, an'! Invr ;ilw.iys OWMCI!, 
 ev< n v. l.in ir was mak:.'):: ai;d madf, th.it 
 ] th'".: r '!.r lo. Si; 1( .c we- ii;ui torr.mitttd .1 luc- 
 irel'iul K'i'v, v.r oui'hr ;o !i:.re r;-.ij-(\i more" 
 n iv.:nt.:i ' if'tii it tl'.in we <.''>i : .111*!, whc- 
 ::.C.T w .:.:.i I.:L 1'hiur, (>r pl.uvd .motl.rr 
 
 t " i i i
 
 Let. 8. andStateofEuROPK. 345 
 
 prince on the throne of Spain, we ought to 
 have reduced the power of France, and 
 to have ftrcngthened her neighbours, much 
 more than we did. We ought to have re- 
 duced her power tor generations to come, 
 and not to have contented ourfclves with a 
 momentary reduction of it. France was 
 exhaulled to a great degree of men and 
 money, and her government had no cre- 
 dit: but they, who took this for a fuffi- 
 cient reduction of her power, looked but a 
 little, way before them, and reaioned too 
 iuperfkially. Several fuch there were 
 however ; for as it has been laid, that there 
 is no extravagancy which fome philolbpher 
 pr other has not maintained, fo your expe- 
 rience, young as you are, mull have fhewn 
 you, that there is no ablurd extreme, into 
 which our party-politicians of Great Bri- 
 tain are not prone to fall, concerning the 
 itate and conduct of public affairs. But if 
 France was cxhaufred : lo were we, and fo 
 were the Dutch. Famine rendered her con- 
 dition much more miferable than ours, at 
 one time, in appearance and in reality too. 
 But as loon as this accident, that had dif- 
 trefFed the French and frightened LEWIS 
 the fourteenth to the ntmoll degree, and 
 the immediate consequences of it were over ; 
 jr was obvious to obierve, tho few nr.uk- 
 
 the
 
 346 A Sketch of the His r:;RY Let. 3. 
 
 the obfervation, that whilll we were unable 
 to raffe in a year, by ibme millions a: leal'., 
 the expences of the year, the I-'renJi were 
 willing and able to bear die impoliuon or 
 the lentil over and above aii the uiiv.r 
 taxes that hail been laid upon than. Tii;> 
 oblervation had the weight it dekrved , 
 and lure it dclbrved to have loiiie aincr.g 
 thufe \v};o made, if, at the tin e JP''M;) or, 
 and who did r.ot ti.ink ilia: the war svas TJ 
 be continued as lon^ as a parliament could 
 
 O J 
 
 be prevailed on co vote money. But lup- 
 jrjting it to have defei\cd none 1 , fuppolin^; 
 the power of France to have been reduced 
 as low as you pleale, wuh rc-ij-,ect to her 
 inward (late i yet lliil I a/Fun), that Inch 
 a reduction could not be permanent, ar.d 
 \va. iio: th-.-retore fufficient. Vv'hoever 
 knows t!)c natt.rr ot iier u'jvrrnrrjwiu, the 
 trn',prr of her people, a-id tiie nau.ral ad- 
 vanta^rs fne has in c <.;;ii:.v rcc overall the 
 nations that iurro'jr.d. her, kno\vs that an 
 arbitrary gov-- rr,;ncnr, and the temper oi 
 Ittr people enable her on p.;r:u - v:lar ocea- 
 Ijons to throw off a IO.IL! or debt HUK h 
 more eafiiy, ar.d with corjiequciuvi nnkh 
 Ids to b- feared, t!.m any or .KT ncpjlibours 
 can : t/.-l ^!i;..), in the general toiine of 
 ihm T :, traile br ^ .:':) eil :.:..! ;...i'.;..,
 
 Let. 8. and State of Eo ROPE. 347 
 
 neither one nor the other is oppreffed , and 
 the temper of the people, and the natural 
 advantages of the country, are fuch, that 
 how great Ibever her diilrefs be at any point 
 ot time, twenty years or' tranquiiity luffice 
 to re-eftabliih her affairs, and to enrich her 
 again at the expence of all the nations of 
 iiurope. If any one doubts of this, lee 
 him confider the condition in which this 
 kingdom was left by I EWIS the fourteenth , 
 the itrange pranks the late duke of OR- 
 LEANS played, during his regency and ad- 
 miniftration, with the whole fyftem of pub- 
 lie revenue, and private property , and 
 then let him tell himlelf, that the revenues 
 of France, the tenth taken off, exceed all 
 the expences ot her government by many 
 millions of livres already, and will exceed 
 them by many more in anotner year. 
 
 UPON the whole matter, my lord, the 
 low and ex!uu!U\l iuite to which France 
 was reduced, by the lait great war, was 
 but a momentary reduction of her power : 
 and whatever real and more latliirj; reduc- 
 tion the treaty of Ucrecht brought about 
 in Ibme inltances, it was nut lli.'Hcient. 
 The power of France would not have ap- 
 pe.ii\d as great as it did, when Kn^hnd 
 and Holland ar:ned tlicmlclves and. . .lied
 
 ASketchofthcHisroRY Lct.H. 
 
 all Germany againft her, if fhe had lain as 
 open to the invafions of her enemies, as 
 her enemies lay to hcr's. Her inward 
 ftrengih was great-, but the ibem-th of 
 thofc frontiers which LLWIS the fourteenth 
 was almoft forty years in forming, and 
 which the folly of all his neighbours in 
 their turns fullered him to form, inude 
 this ftrength as formidable as k became. 
 The true reduCLion of the exorbitant power 
 of France, I take, no notice ot chimerical 
 projects about changing her government, 
 coniiilcd theiefore in uifarming her fron- 
 tiers, and fortifying the barriers .igainll 
 her, by the ctfTinn and demolition ot many 
 more places than fhe yielded up at Utrecht; 
 hu: nor of more than Hie might have been 
 obliged to lacrihce to her own immediate 
 iclief, and to the future fecuiity of her 
 neighbour*. That fhe was not obliged to 
 make theic facnfices, I affirm was owing 
 folcly to thole who oppofed the peace : and 
 i am willing to put my whole credit with 
 your lordihip, and the whole merits of a 
 ( aufe that has been fo much tomt.flrd, on 
 this iiTue. I fay a caule that has been io 
 ir.uch contefled ; lor in truth, I tliii.k, it is 
 no lo/L'er a doubt any wl.< re, except i:i 
 Bntifl* paii.j .!;!(: , v.-' : eiiiei tin- loni'uCt (-1 
 ' ; :<j!c who i:e::hr
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 349 
 
 done in one thoufand (even hundred and 
 fix , nor pretended to treat without a ddign 
 of concluding, as was done in one thoufand 
 feven hundred and nine and ten, but carried 
 the nre.it work of the peace forward to its 
 eontummaiion , or the conduct of thole 
 who oppofed this work in every Hep of its 
 progrefs, faved the potfer of France from 
 a greater and a lufficient reduction at the 
 
 O 
 
 treaty of Utrecht. The very minifters, 
 who were employed in this fatal oppofition, 
 are obliged to confefs this truth. How 
 fhould they deny it ? Thole of Vienna may 
 complain that the emperor had not the en- 
 tire Spanilh monarchy, or thofe of Hol- 
 land that the States were not made mailers 
 directly and indirectly of the whole Low 
 Countries. But neither they, nor any one 
 elfc that has any fcnfeof fhame about him, 
 can deny that the late queen, tho fhe was 
 rcfolved to retreat becaule me was reiblved to 
 finim the war, yet was to the utmoft degree 
 dcfirous to treat in a perfect union with her 
 allies, and to procure them all the reafon- 
 able terms they could expect ; and much 
 belter than thofe they reduced themfelves 
 to the ncceflity of accepting, by endea- 
 vouring to wreit the negotiation out of her 
 hands. The dilunion of the allies gave 
 France the advantages fhe improved. The 
 
 fole
 
 350 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 iole queftion is, Who caufed this difunion ? 
 and that will be caiily decided by every 
 impartial man, who informs himlelf care- 
 fully of the public anecdotes ot that time. 
 Jf the private anecdotes were to be laid open 
 as well as thole, and I think it almoll tune 
 chey fhould , the whole monltrous Icene 
 would appear, and fhock the eye of every 
 honcft man. I do not intend to defccnd 
 jnto many particulars at this time : but 
 whenever I, or any oihcr perion as well 
 informed as I, ih.il 1 delcend into a mil de- 
 duction of fuch particulars, it will become 
 undeniably evident, that the moil violent 
 oppofition imaginable, carried on by the 
 Germans and the Dutch in league with a 
 party in Britain, began a.s loon as the ririi 
 overtures were made to the queen , before 
 fhe had lo much as begun to treat : and 
 was therefore an oppofition not to this or 
 that plan of treaty, but in truth to all trea- 
 ty, and efpecially to one wherein Great 
 Britain took the lead, or was to have any 
 particular advantage. That the Impcrialiits 
 meant no treaty, unleis a preliminary and 
 impracticable condition of it was to let the 
 crown of Spain on the emperor's head, 
 Avill appear from this ; that prince Ki C.EVK, 
 when he came into Kr.^laud, lon;<; alter 
 the death of JOSLPH ami elevation of 
 
 CHAKLI..S,
 
 Let. 8. ;ind State of EUROPE. -51 
 
 CHAKLLS, upon an errand mod unworthy 
 of fo jjrcat a man, treated always on this 
 fuppofuion : and I remember with how 
 much inward impatience I aililtcd at con- 
 ferences held with him concerning quotas 
 tor renewing the war in Spain, in the very 
 famr room, at the cockpit, where the 
 queen's minifters had been told in plain 
 terms, a little befbie, by thole of other 
 allies, " that their mailers would not con- 
 " lent that the. Imperial and Spanifh crowns 
 " fhould unite on the lame head." That 
 the Dutch were not averle to all treaty, 
 but meant none wherein Great Britain was 
 to have r.ny particular advantage, will ap- 
 pear fro .11 this j that their minifter declared 
 himfelf ready and authoriled to (top the 
 opposition made to the queen's meafures, 
 by prefenting a memorial, wherein he 
 would declare, " that his matters entered 
 " into them, and \vere refolved not to con- 
 " tinue the \var for the recovery of Spain, 
 11 provided the queen would conlent that 
 " they Ihouki o.irnion Gibraltar and Port- 
 " mahon jointly with us, and Pure equal - 
 *' ly the Afiicnto, tlie South Sea inip, and 
 41 wh-ift-ver Ihouid be grained by the Spa- 
 " niards to th- queen and her lubjc-db. " 
 That the whios encased in this league with 
 
 O V. ^> ^J 
 
 tjrc'ign powers againft their country, js 
 
 well
 
 352 ASketch of theHisTORv I,c(.S. 
 
 well as their queen, and with a phrenl'y 
 moie unaccountable than that which nude 
 and maintained the iolemn league and co- 
 venant formerly, will appear from this ; 
 that their attempts were directed not only 
 to wreit the negotiations out ot the queen's 
 hands, but to oblige their country to carry 
 on the war, on the fame unequal loot that 
 had colt her already about twenty millions 
 more tiian (he ought to have contributed 
 to it. 1'or they not only continued to abet 
 the emperor, whole inability to lupply his 
 quota was confclFcd , but the Dutch like- 
 wifc, after the States, had reiuled to ratify 
 the treaty their minifter figncd at London 
 towards the end of the yc.ir one thoulamt 
 fcvcn hundred and eleven, and by which the 
 queen united hcrlclt more clolely than ever 
 to them i engaging to purfuc the war, to 
 conclude the peace, and to guaranty it, 
 when concluded, jointly with them > " pro- 
 44 vided they would keep the engagement!? 
 " they had taken with her, and the cor.di 
 44 tions ot proportionate expencc under 
 44 which our nation had entered into the 
 * 4 war." Upon luch fchcmes as thefc was 
 the oppofition to the treaty of Utrecht 
 carried on : and the means employed, and 
 the means projected (o be employed, \sere 
 worthy ot luJi Ichemcb ; u]>cn, dnect, an>i
 
 Let. 8. and State of Eu ROPE. 353 
 
 indecent defiance of legal authority, fccrct 
 conspiracies againft the Itate, and bale ma- 
 chinations againft: particular men, who had 
 no other crime rhan that of endeavouring 
 to conclude a war, under the authority of 
 the queen, which a party in the nation en- 
 deavoured to prolong, againtt her autho- 
 rity. Had the good policy of concluding 
 the war been doubtful, it was certainly 
 as lawful for thole, who thought it good, to 
 a.iviie it, as it had b-en for thole, who 
 thought it bad, to ad vile the contrary : and 
 tiie deciJion of the fjvc reign on the throne 
 o-.;giit to have terminated the conceit. But 
 lie who had judged by tiie appearances of 
 things on one ii:le, at that time, would have 
 brcn apt to think, th;it putting an end to 
 the war, or to Magna Chartu, was the fame 
 thing; th.it the queen on the throne had no 
 right to govern independently of her fuc- 
 CciTor ; nor any of her fubj'-cl> a ri^ht to 
 adminiitcr the i;overn;r,cnc uniier her, tho 
 called to it by her, except thole whom fhe 
 h.ij thcuo-ht fit to Jav aiide. l.',xtr<;vaganC 
 
 O - *_- 
 
 as thcle principles are, no o r her could ju- 
 ihiy tiie conducl: lield at that tim? by thofc 
 v. ii'j oppofed tilt' peace : and as I faid juft 
 tiiat the rhrc:iiv of this ie.'.^^c was 
 tihin th.it of the lu 
 
 and co\'; r ;inr, I ir.-^I.t have 
 
 r / , i ' . i 
 
 /. auv.eu,
 
 354 A Sketch of the HISTORY Lct.S'. 
 added, that it was not very many degrees 
 lefs criminal. Some of thole, who charged 
 the queen's miniltcrs, after her death, with 
 imaginary treafons, had been guilty during 
 her life of real treafons : and 1 can com- 
 pare the folly and violence ot the fpinc 
 that prevailed at that time, both before 
 the conclufion of the pe ice, and, under pre- 
 tence of danger to the iua'ciilon, after ii, 
 to nothing more nearly than to the lolly 
 and violence of the Ipirit tlut ieized the 
 tories loon alter the arcefiion ot GLOKCIL 
 the iirft. The l.r.ter indeed, which \v.is 
 provoked by unjutl .'.:v.! impolitic JHT- 
 lecution, broke out in open rebellion. 
 The fonre r might h.we done i'o, if the 
 queen had lived a little longer. But u> 
 return. 
 
 TKE obftinate adherer.ce of the Dutch 
 to this league, in oppofnion to the quern, 
 rendered the confeienccs or I 'trcrht, whrix 
 tliey were opened, no better tlun HV.K is. 
 conlercnce-.. 1 lad tiie men v, iio <.'ove: ;;< d 
 that commonwealth U-en wile and II>M,' 
 cri'.i:"h to u m:-/, ar I'-.'.M i!v -n, iorii:.i!!y 
 v.]-\ t!-,j queer., ::M!, i:::ce ti^-y cuiM m-c 
 li.iV.iv'i' .1 ion. M! , t,j .:;! :n i' r ):*.: .-rt \v::;i 
 i.rr 1.1 ;; -, v.e lh')'.i!u h.r. e in ft; i:iii in ti;r..' 
 itj ir.tiMiiin a lri'U.:i;:L uiiion anuo. 1 '!<-
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 355 
 
 allies, and a fufficient fuperiority over the 
 French. All the fpccific demands that the 
 former made, as well as the Dutch thcm- 
 felves, either to incumber the negotiation, 
 or to have in rcferve, according to the ar- 
 tihce ufuully employed on luch occafioni;, 
 certain points from which to depart in the 
 courfe of it with advantage, would not 
 have been obtained : but all the efTential 
 demands, all in particular that were really 
 necefiary to fee u re the barriers in the Low 
 Countries and of the four circles againft 
 France, would have been ib. For P'rance 
 mult have continued, in this cale, rather 
 to fuc for peace, than to treat on an equal 
 foot. The firit dauphin, fon of LEWIS 
 t'.ie fourteenth, died lever;;! months before 
 this congreis began : the lecond dauphin, 
 his grandlbn, and the wife and the eldeft 
 fon of this prince, died loon alter it be- 
 gan, of the fame unknown diltemper, and 
 were buried together in the fame grave. 
 Such family misfortunes, following a Ions; 
 
 ' . ^-* 
 
 feries of national misfortunes, made the 
 old king, tho lie bore them with much 
 Iteming magnanimity, dcfirous to get out 
 
 of the war at any tolerable rate, that lv; 
 might not run the nique or leaving a child 
 oi" h've years okl, the pivlent king, engaged 
 ""> it- '1'iie queen <.iid a'l tii:tt was morally
 
 556 A Sketch uf the HISTORY Lct.b"- 
 
 poflible, except giving up licr honor in the 
 negotiation, and tlic ir.tereiU ct" her lub- 
 jccts in the conditions of peace, to procure 
 this union with the itates Central. BJC all 
 Ihe couki do was vain -, and the lame phrcn- 
 ly> that had hindered the Dutch from im- 
 proving to their and to the common ad- 
 vantage the public misfortunes ct France, 
 hindered them from improving to the Lime 
 purpoies tlie private misfortunes of the 
 houic of Bourbon. They continued 10 
 flatter themfelves that they ihouid lorcc 
 the queen out <-r her meaiures, by their 
 intrigues with the party in Britain wl.< 
 oppolcd thele meaiures, and even raife :::\ 
 inlurrcdlion againil h'.-r. But theie i:.- 
 triLTues, and thole ot piint.c_L.vc;LNi > weu- 
 known and dilappointed -, and monlkur 
 lit -, s had t!v mortiiieat::;n to be n-j-'roached 
 \\i : .!i tr.em piil^licly, ulirn i:r ca.'iie to ta'.e 
 leave of tl.e lords ot tl.c (ovine:!, by ti:c 
 c.-.rl (if Ox t 'OK t J-, who ctr -;cd int.) iii.;:;v 
 } ariicf.uirs th..t; coul.i i.c : be ik-::-eJ, i-,\ 
 the j'"iv. ! .te tranl. aior.s it t'-.is i^rt, to 
 V.!;K!I T'rv> l...i! beer, ;. ;:.-rty, ::i u>::i- 
 j 1:..: . c v.'i'li hi'- M.d: i. :. " , i.'ivi. ,'s I be 
 i; ve, r. v.Ji .; ii'il ! . uv.-j :.l . ,\ in-
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 357 
 
 events of the campaign. But in (lead of 
 defeating the fucceis of the congrefs, the 
 events of the campaign ferved only to turn 
 this iuecefs in favor <>t France. At lh-i 
 beginning of the year, the queen and the 
 States, in concert, might have given the 
 law to friend and foe, with great advan- 
 tage to the former; and with fuch a de- 
 triment to the latter, as the caulcs of the 
 war rendered jolt, the events of it reafon- 
 able, and the objects of it nereflary. At 
 the end of the year, the allies were no 
 longer in a Hate of giving, nor the French 
 of receiving the law; and the Dutch had 
 recourfc to the queen's good offices, when 
 they could oppole and durlt inlult Ivr no 
 longer. Even then, thele oilices were cm- 
 ployed with zeal, and with ibmc cffjct for 
 them. 
 
 THUS the war ended, much more fa- 
 vorably to France than me expected, or 
 they who put an end to it defigned. The 
 queen would have humbled and weakened 
 this power. Hie allies who oppjfeJ. her 
 would have crufhed it, and have railed 
 another as exoibitant on the ruins o" it. 
 Neither one nor the other luccecded, and 
 they who meant to ruin the French rower 
 Z 3 prelervad
 
 358 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 8, 
 
 preferved it, by oppofing thole who meant 
 to reduce ir. 
 
 SINTE I have mentioned the events of 
 the year one thoufand levcn hundred and 
 twelve, and the dccifivc turn they gave to 
 the negociations in favor of France, give 
 me leave to lay fomethin<j; ir.ore en this 
 fubject. You will find that I mall do fo 
 with much impartiality. The difaftrous 
 events of this campaign in the Low Coun- 
 tries, and the conlequcnces of them, have 
 been imputed to the fcparation ot the Bri- 
 tifh troops from the army <>t the ;iilies. 
 The clamor againft this mealure was 
 reat at that time, and the prejudices uhicli 
 th:s clamor railed are rreat fhll arr.or.g 
 ibmc men. But as clamor railed rhelc 
 prejudices, other prejudices <inve birth to 
 this clamor: and it is no wonder they 
 fhnuld do lo among pei ions Ivr.t on conti- 
 iHiir.p, the war; lime I (AMI \viy freely, 
 that when tlic full Itc'p tli.it led [o this |c- 
 ]-.:r;;:;')n came to ir,y knowleil^e, which 
 w.i.-, n> r ;.n hour, by the way, before i 
 win !y :i:e queen's order to the duke of 
 () :/('\p, in the v< ry \vc;!i ! s in \\huli the 
 Dfiler was ruKiled .ii/d MVCP, " ih/t he 
 " lr.;.;:!d r.ot er.; 1 ..; ': 1:1 .!;;-, !:<;:<, r.u; }:;'.- 
 M t':\ni a b.i':lr, ti'l iuahvr '... .: :,' I \v.;
 
 1-ct.H. and State of EUROPE. ^59 
 
 lurprifed and hurr. So much, that if I 
 had had an opportunity of fpeaking in pri- 
 vate to the quern, sfrer I luid received 
 monficur DE TORCY'S letter to me on the 
 iubject, and before Ihe went into the coun- 
 cil, I fhould have fpoken to her, I think, 
 in the firil heat, again 11 it. The truth is, 
 however, that the Itep was juftifiable at 
 that point of time in every refpecl, and 
 therefore that the confequenccs are to be 
 charged to the account of thofe who drew 
 them on themlelves, not to the account of 
 the queen, nor of the minitler who adviled 
 her. The ilep was juftifiable to the allies 
 lurely, fince the queen took no more upon 
 her, no not lo much by tar, in making it, 
 as many of them had done by lulpending, 
 or endangering, or defeating operations 
 in the heat of the war, when they declined 
 to lend their troops, or delayed the march 
 of them, or neglected the preparations they 
 were obliged to make, on the moil frivo- 
 lous pretences. Your lordfhip will find in 
 the courle of your enquiries many parti- 
 cular initances of what is here pointed out 
 in general. But I cannot help defcending 
 into ibme few of thole that regard the em- 
 peror .'.nd the States General, who cried the 
 loudcil and with the moll effect, tho they 
 had the leall rcafon, on account or their 
 Z 4 own
 
 *6o A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let.S. 
 
 own conduct, to complain of the queen's. 
 "With what :acc could the emperor, t'or m- 
 ftr.nce, piclumc to complain or ihe orders 
 fcnt to the duke of OK MONO? I lay no- 
 thing of hii, deficiencies, whkh \\tre fo 
 great, that he had at this very tirr.e little 
 more than one regiment that could be laid 
 pr-jperly to act againl! France and Spuin 
 at h:s fole charge; as 1 arh~;med to pnnce 
 IIUGLSE before the loid.s of tlie council, 
 and dcmonltrated upon paper the next day. 
 I lay nothing of all that preceded the year 
 or.e thou'and feven hundred and Irvvn, on 
 uhicii I fhculd have nuuh to fay. Bur I 
 ck-fire your lordfliip only to roi.i^.lrr, \vh.:t 
 you \\iil fifid to liave j\.fi", d alter the f,.- 
 mous ycr.r one ihoufand Icven huiu!rc\! ;-r,d 
 fix. VV.is it with the queen's approbr.rion, 
 or aLMinll h^r \\ili, th.it the eir.peior ir,a:!e 
 the trc;:ty lur the evacuation or 1 .':-^l\ir- 
 dy, .:: d 1 t oi.t !u ^.Meat a ru-uilKr oi 
 1-rmch urinvjr.ts time enou-'h to rcc ruic 
 
 O * J 
 
 themielves at home, to march into Spain, 
 and to ddlroy the JJiiiifli forces at Al:ii2n- 
 /a : \\'as it \vit!: her approbation, or aj'uintr. 
 her v. ;!1, ti.ar, inilrucl at employing all h:s 
 forces and nil hi 1 , er.deavcnirs, to ::...kj the 
 grc.ir,(l ii(.:iij. r n of the whole war, the enirr- 
 j)nli: on 'loi:!-:n, lucaxd, he di-t.a h'_\l 
 ivvcivL- th'jular.u men to reduce t!iv }.:,::-iio:n
 
 I,ct.S. and State of EURO IT. ~,6i 
 of Naples, that muft have fallen of couth- ? 
 and t!i;it an opportunity of ruiniiu: uic 
 whole maritime lorce of France, and of 
 ruining or fubdu'.ng iier provinces on that 
 lide, was loit, merely In' tin-, unneccllary 
 diveriionj and by the conduct of prince 
 I'ror.M., which left no ro >r,i to doubt time 
 he <^ave Gccaiion to this Mul dilappoint- 
 ment on purpoie, and in concert with tiie 
 court of Vienna ? 
 
 TTRV your eyr?, my lord, on the con- 
 ouct of the State.-, and you will find red- 
 ion to be aiiomih-d at the arrogance of the 
 men who governed in ihi m at tins time, 
 
 and who prelumed to exclaim ajramlt a 
 t . i 
 
 queen of Great Britain, lor doing what their 
 deputies had done nv.;;v than once in that 
 very country, and in the courle of that 
 very war. In the year one thouland ieven 
 hundred and twelve, at the latter end of a 
 war, when conferences tor treating a peace 
 were opened, when the lealt iiniller even: 
 in the field would take oil" from that U:pe- 
 riority which the allies had in the con^rcll), 
 iind when the pall fuccefs of tlie war had al- 
 ready given them as much of this Ijpe- 
 riority as they wanted to obtain a lare, ad- 
 vantageous, honorable, and laiting {>ejce, 
 the cjtieen directed her general to iLii'^end 
 
 tit!
 
 562 A Sketch of the Hi -TORY Let. 8. 
 
 till further order the operations of her 
 troops. In one thoufand fcven hundred 
 and three, in the beginning of a war, when 
 lomcthing was to be piqued or no lucccfi 
 to be expected, and when the bad lunation 
 of affairs in Germany and Italy required, in 
 a particular manner, that efforts Ihould be 
 made in the Low Countries, and that the 
 war fhould not langmih there whiifi it was 
 imluccefsful every w lie re elle the duke of 
 MARLBOROUCH determined to attack the 
 1'Vrnch, but the Dutch deputies would not 
 iufft-r their tnjops to go on -, defeated his 
 delign in the very moment ot it's execution, 
 it I remember well, and <;ave no other rea- 
 ibn for their proceeding than that which i* 
 JL realon agamll every batile, the pofTibiliiy 
 or being beaten. The circuinllancc of 
 proximity to their frontier uas urged, 1 
 know, and it V.MS laid, that their province* 
 \vculd K* expoird to t!ie incurlions of the 
 French if they ioil L!I<- baulc. Hut belides 
 o:hcr anlwers to tim \.:ni pretence, it wa-, 
 <;bvious that they had \entuM.l battles as 
 near home as this would have been fought, 
 :-nd that the way to remove tin- enemy far- 
 ther o:T was by action, nor m.iti'.on. t'p 01 ' 
 [lie whoir- matter-, tin- Hutch ilejuiries lloj> 
 p d tii' 1 j';'i:'r' - ij o the confederate ;in;iy ..' 
 -. V.s t. '.\ i'v e\<;\ii;i. r .in a:b!:ra;v a;i.l
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 363 
 
 independent authority over the troops of' 
 the States. In one thoufand feven hundred 
 and live, when the fuccels or the preceding 
 campaign fhould have given tliem an entire 
 conJ'idence in the duke of MARI.BOROLT.H'S 
 conduct, when returning from the Molelle 
 to the Low Countries he began to make 
 himfelf and the common caufe amends, for 
 the diiappointment which pique and jea- 
 loufy in the prince of BADLN, or ulbal floth 
 and negligence in the Germans, had occa- 
 fioned juft before, by forcing the French 
 lines; when lie was in the hill purliiit of 
 this advantage, and when he was marching 
 to attack an enemy half defeated, and more 
 than half-difpirited -, nay when he had made 
 liis dilpofitions for attacking, and part of 
 his troops had paffed the Dyle the depu- 
 ties of the States once more tied up his 
 hands, took from him an opportunity too 
 fair to be loll; for thefe, I think, were 
 ibme of the terms of his complaint: and 
 in fhort the confederacy leceived an affront 
 at lealt, where we might have obtained a 
 victory. Let this that has been laid ferve 
 as a fpecimen of the independency on the 
 queen, her councils, and her generals, with 
 \vhich thefe powers acted in the courie of 
 v the war; who were not afhamed to find 
 ,/aulc t'-.at the queen, once, and at the lat-
 
 364 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 8. 
 ccr end of ir, prcUimed to Uilnt-iu! ti-.e ujr- 
 rations ot her troops till fanner order. Hut 
 be it that they ion law what this farther or- 
 der would be. 1 hey foivlaw then, th.it 
 as ibcn as Dunkirk Jl/'iiKi Iv pi,: inu> the. 
 queen's hands, fhe v.uulil to;- lent iu a lui- 
 pcnlion of arms lor tv>o niuinii-,, and invite 
 tncm to do the lame. Nu:!:cr this tore- 
 light, nor the ilron^ i':ci!ara:ion \vhiv. h the 
 bilbop of B:,JSTOL ir.ade by t!\e qucen'b or- 
 der at Utrecht, and winch ihcwcd tiu-m that 
 her relolution was not t.ik. -n to fubinit to 
 the league into which th-y h.id cr.icrc\i 
 againil her, could prevail on them to make 
 a right ule of thele two month.;, hy cndea- 
 vcurin^ to renew their union and ^ood un- 
 dcrllanding with the quctn-, tho 1 ran hy 
 v.-ith the greatcll truth, and t!iey could not 
 cioubt of it at the time, that file would 
 have gone more than half-way to nicer 
 them, and that her rriniilers would have 
 done tlieir utmoft to br:n<; it about. K\vn 
 ^hen we mi::,ht have i\i.im(.-d t!ie lui enoniy 
 v/c began to lole in the o>n;!iels i tor, tlv: 
 queen and the States uiuiiri", the princi- 
 pal allies would have r.r. ; \i \siu'i them : 
 an:!, in this caic, it v.'ou'u! ii.-ve been !o 
 niuch t.'.t: interi'll ot I'r.iiU'- to avoid ar.v 
 <.ha:i( e or la'Mi -
 
 Lct.8. and State of EUROPE. 365 
 
 peace, during the fufpenfion, on much 
 woiic terms for Ivrfelf and for Spain, than 
 flic made it afterwards. But the prudent 
 and iolv.-r States continued to aft like fro- 
 ward children, or like men drunk with re- 
 ientme'it ar.J paliV.;n ; and inch will the 
 conduct be or the wile povcrnmenrs in 
 
 O 
 
 every circumitance, where a fpiri: of fac- 
 tion and of private intered prevails, among 
 thole \vho are at the head, over reafon of 
 ilate. AtVr lay'.ng a fide all decency in 
 their behaviour towards the queen, they 
 laid Mule all caution for themfrlves. They 
 declared Ci tiiey v.ould carry on the war 
 " without her. " Landrecy feemed, in 
 their ellecrn, of niore importance than- 
 Dunkti'k-, ;-nd the opportunity of walling 
 fome Frcnci: provinces, or of putting the 
 whole even: of the war on the cecifion of 
 another battle, preferable to the other mea- 
 fure that lay open to them ; that, I mean, 
 of trying in good earned, and in an honelt 
 concert with the queen, durinrr the fufpen- 
 fion of arms, whah^r iuch terms of peace,, 
 us cu^h: to laLi.siy th.m and the other 
 allies ir/^ht noc be ir^pol^d en trance. 
 
 IF the confederate army had broke into 
 France, the campaign l.'efore thi^, or in 
 ar.y foin^r campaign - v a:v:i if tlie Germans
 
 366 A Sketch of the His r OR v Lct.S. 
 
 and the Dutch had extTcill-d then the lame 
 inhumanity,, as the I-rcnch had ixciulvd 
 in their provinces in former warsj it they 
 had burnt Yerfailles, and even Paris, and 
 if they had dillurbed the allies of the dead 
 princes that repuic at Saint Denis, every 
 good man would have felt the horror, th.it 
 luch cruelties i;.lpire: no man could ii.ivc 
 laid that t; t e retaliation was unjuft. Bi:t 
 in one thousand fe\en hundred and twelve, 
 it was too la:-.-, in every relpe. t, to medi- 
 ta'e lucli p;\]eCo. h the l*re:u h had been 
 unprepared to defend their rro.mer, eitii.r 
 iui want ot mean*-, or in a v..in conriilencc 
 that tiie peace wou'd be U:.K. :, as ourkuui; 
 CuA.i.r.s the le- ond was unprepared to 
 dcrend his coali. :U t!ie latter end or" ins 
 firlt w.:r W;L!) I 1 ^ll.uid, t!,c allies mir'Jii 
 have played a hire ^a-r.e in l'atisr> ing their 
 vengeance on the I'jcnch, as tr.e l)'..tvh did 
 on u - in one thoularui lix humired .^ul ilx:y 
 levc:;; and impoiinp; iiarvier terms on 
 thtii:, tiian tii; le t:iey o!ie;e.:, c-r would 
 luve m cepteil. But th;,w.i. ,/,;: t!:e cale. 
 1'he French army was, 1 believe, :r.'.;re nu- 
 merous than the army or" t!ic .illie , even 
 before lepuration, :'.':! cert.iiniy in a minli 
 better coiul:::on t;,..:i tv.--: <: tb.ree ve.ii's 
 before, whe:i .1 iieli:< < ot t-1 ;.)vi v. as Ij-ik to 
 clillod^c tlum, iur we iiul r.o mere, at
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 367 
 
 Malplaquet. Would the Germans and 
 the Dutch have found it more ealy to force 
 them at this time, than it was at that ? 
 "Would not the French have fought with 
 
 ^j 
 
 as much obftinacy to lave Paris, as they 
 did to lave Mons ? and, with all the re- 
 gard due to the duke ofORMOND and to 
 prince KIFGENE was the ablencc of the 
 duke of MARLBOROUGH of no confequence ? 
 Turn thii arrair every way in your thoughts, 
 my lord, and you will find that the Ger- 
 mans and the Dutch had nothing in theirs, 
 but to break, at any rate, and at any rilque, 
 the negociations that were begun, and to 
 reduce Great Britain to the necclTity ot 
 continuing, what ihe had been too long, a 
 province of the confederacy. A province 
 indeed, and not one ot the bell treated ; 
 fince the confederates afTumed a right of 
 obliging her to keep her pacts with them, 
 and of difpenfing with their obligations to 
 her, ot exhauthng her, without rule, or 
 proportion, or mealure,, in the iupport of 
 a war, to which me alone contributed more 
 than all of" them, and in which (lie had no 
 longer an immediate inters/It, nor even any 
 remote intereit that was not common, or, 
 with relpect to her, very dubious ^ and. 
 after ail tills, of complaining that the 
 cue'.-n prdumrd to hca:k/?n to overture^, 
 
 of
 
 360 A Sketch of the HISTORY I.ct.S. 
 
 or peace, ami to let a negotiation on 
 foot, whilll their humor and ambition 
 rujuirtci that the war fhoukl be pro- 
 longed for .in indefinite ti:r.e, ana tor 
 a purpulc that WM.S cither bud or indeter- 
 minate. 
 
 THF. fufpcnlion oi* arm>, tli.-t began in 
 the Low L'ountne", was continued, and 
 extended afterwards by tii;- aci I ii^ncd .it 
 1'ontaincbleau. The ioitunc ui tac w.',- 
 turned at the l.mc rime: and all tlioic I'il- 
 graces lolloped, wincii obh;:--d the Dui- h 
 to treat, and to ticl'ire. the aJiiiunccot tlic 
 queen, whom they had let .it deiiancc i) 
 lately. This aiLilance tiiey iiad, as elKx- 
 tually as it could b:' j:^'" in t!r-' cirt:u;i.- 
 Itancrs, to which t!:c-y iiad reduced r hc:r.- 
 lelves, and the \vi:uic alliance: and the 
 pcac'e of Great Britain, Portugal, S..%';,, 
 i^riiilia, and the States dc-ivr^i, \va:. rr..u: , 
 wulvuit his ur.jK-ii.ii majelly's concurrcr.. c - , 
 in r!ic IpiiH! 1 ; ct one ih-Hil.'.r.d K-ven l.i;n- 
 dred ar.d tl.utecni as it r.iiui.t iu.vc bc.n 
 made, much t;.o:v ;-..:va;r t .L ! ,u-i;uliy lor ;ne:;i 
 all, in tli.it <jf one tiioi.i.iiul ieven luu.d.rc-ii 
 and twelve. Lels oblt'.n.K \ on ii.e j\i;r ot 
 the Starrs, and j---r!,. - .; !" 
 
 lolutions on tlie p.i;t <.i i .: *.; 
 have v/o;.;::: u) all ti:c:c L.I\..X.: :!;:x:.u:
 
 Lct.8. and State of EUROPE. 369 
 
 one, and have finifhed this great work 
 much fooncr and better. I fay, perhaps 
 more decifive refolutions on the part of the 
 queen ; becaufe, altho I think that I 
 fhould have conveyed her orders for fign- 
 ing a treaty of peace with France, before 
 the armies took the field, much more wil- 
 lingly, than I executed them afterwards in 
 figning that of the cefiation of arms -, yet 
 I do not prefume to decide, but mall de- 
 fire vyour lordfhip to do fo, on a review of 
 all circumstances, fome of which I mall 
 juil mention. 
 
 THE league made for protracting the 
 war having oppoled the queen to the ut- 
 moft of their power, and by means of every 
 fort, from the riril appearances of a nego- 
 tiation ; the general effect of this violent 
 oppofition, on her and her minifters was, 
 to make them proceed by flower and more 
 cautious iteps : the particular effect of it 
 was, to oblige them to open the eyes of 
 the nation, and to inflame the people with 
 a defire of peace, by (hewing, in the moft 
 public and Iblemn manner, how unequally 
 we were burdened, and how unfairly we 
 were treated by our allies. The firlt gave 
 an air of diffidence and timidity to their 
 conduct, which encouraged the league, and 
 A a gave
 
 37 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let.S. 
 
 gave vigor to the oppofition. 'I he fccond 
 irritated the Dutch particularly ; for the 
 emperor and the other allies had the mo- 
 defty at lead, not to pretend to bear any 
 proportion in the cxpence of the war: and 
 thus the two powers, whole union was the 
 mod eflcntial, were the molt at variance, 
 and the queen was obliged ro net in a clofcr 
 concert with her enemy who deli red peace, 
 than Ihe would have done if her allies had 
 been lets obltinately bent to protract the 
 war. During thele tranlactions, my lord 
 OXFORD, who had his corrclpondcnctes 
 apart, and a private thread ol neuutution 
 always in his hands, entertained hopes that 
 PHII :P would be brought to abandon Spain 
 in favor of his father-in-law, and to con- 
 tent himfelf with the flates of that prince, 
 the kingdom of Sicily, and the prtkrvation 
 of his ri c ;!;t of lucceflion to ihe. crown or 
 I-'rancc. \\'hether my lord h;id any parti- 
 cular realons for cnterrAur.n*.!; thele hopc^, 
 bc-fuies ti.e general rc,il'>;is l;v<ndrd on the 
 rop.v'iiion (if ITUIICC, <.-n t!i.:t ot the Hour- 
 bon l.imilv, ar.d on tlu- dilpolition (jf 
 I, r.wis the fourteenth, 1 doubt very much. 
 'I'l.nt I.i \vis, who lou^rhr, and h.id need 
 (,{ frc-kin;-; } c.icc\ almoll at any rate, and 
 \vho l.i\v t!;at he couKl not obtain it, rvcn 
 i>: :!,c qviccn, un!'-l^ INni IP abantior.c.i im- 
 
 r '. ... .;clv
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 371 
 
 mediately the crown ot Spain, or abandoned 
 immediately, by renunciation and a folemn 
 act of cxclufion, all pretenfion to that of 
 France; that LEWIS was deiirous of the 
 former, I cannot doubt. That PHILIP 
 vvoLiid have abandoned Spain with the 
 equivalents that have been mentioned, or 
 Cither of them, I believe Jikewife; if the 
 prelent king of FRANCE had died, when 
 his father, mother, and eldcll brother did : 
 for they all had the fame diiK'inpcr. But 
 LLWIS would uie no violent means to force 
 his grandlon i the queen would not continue 
 the war to force him ; PHILIP was too ob- 
 ftinate, and his wife too ambitious, to quit, 
 the crown of Spain, when they had diico- 
 vercd our wcakneis, and felt their own 
 ftrength in that country, by their fuccefs 
 in the campaign of one thoufand leven hun- 
 dred and ten: after which my lord STAN- 
 HOPE himlelf was convinced that Spain 
 could not be conquered, nor kept, if it 
 v, as conquered, without a much greater 
 army, than it was pofTible for us to lend 
 thither. In that lituation it was wild to 
 imagine, as the earl of OXFORD imagined, 
 or pretended to imagine, that they would 
 quit the crown of Spain, fora remote and 
 uncertain prolpect of iucceeding to that 
 p/ France, and content themlelves to be, 
 A a 2 ir>
 
 372 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 9. 
 in the mean time, princes of very fmall 
 dominions. Put LIP therefore, alter ftrug- 
 gling long that he- might not be obliged tu 
 make his option till the luccefTion of France 
 lay open to him, was obliged to make it, 
 and made it, for Spam. Now this, my 
 lord, was the very cnlis of the negotiation : 
 and to this point I apply what 1 laid above 
 of the effect of more ciecifive relblutions on 
 the part of the queen. 1: was plain, that, 
 if Hie made the campaign in concert with 
 her allies, fhe could be no longer milt rets 
 of the negotiations, nor have almoit a 
 chance for conducting them to the ifTue me, 
 propoled. Our ill fuccels in the field would 
 have rendered the French Iris tractable in 
 the congrefs : our ^ood fucccfs there would 
 have rendered the allies lo. On this prin- 
 ciple the queen lufprmicd the oper.itirns ul 
 her troops, and then concluded the ctH'itio::. 
 
 COMPARE now the appearances and effect 
 of this meafure, with the .ippear.inces and 
 rftrct that another rneafure would have 
 had. In order to nr;i\e at any pc.u~r, ir 
 was ne.ccfl~.iry to do v. hat the queen did, 
 or to i!o more : and, in order to arrive at 
 a good o.it, it w:i.-> r.eixl! iry to be jirepai'^d 
 to c:\rr\ <;:i the w.ir, .is well as to m.:ke .1 
 fliew 01 it-, tor Ihi: ha.! tlie hard talk upcn 
 
 her,
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 373 
 
 her, of guarding againll her allies, and her 
 enemies both. But in that ferment, when 
 tew men confidcred any tiling coolly, the 
 conduct of her general, after he took the 
 field, tho he covered the allies in the fiege 
 of Qutlnoy, correfpondcd ill, in appear- 
 ance, with the declarations of carrying on 
 the war vigorouHy, that had been made, 
 on fevcral occaiions, before the campaign 
 opened. It had an air of double dealing-, 
 and as fuch ic paficd among thofe, who 
 did not combine in their thoughts all the 
 circumftances of the c .njunclure, or who 
 were infatuated with tiie notional neceility 
 of continuing the war. The clamor could 
 not have been greater, if the queen had 
 iigned her peace lepararcly : and, I think, 
 the appearances might have been explained 
 as favorably in one cafe, as in the other. 
 From the death ot the emperor JOSEPH, it 
 was neither our interell, nor the common 
 intereft, wc-ll underftood, to let the crown 
 of Spain on the prefent emperor's head. 
 As loon therefore as PHILIP had made 
 his option, and if fhe had taken this relo- 
 lution early, his option \\ould have been 
 iboner made, I prck:me th;i: the quc^-n 
 might have declan.-d, th.-.t !hj would noc 
 continue the- war an hour longer to procure 
 Spain for lii^ liupcrial r.i.ijclty ; that the 
 A a enae-
 
 374 ASkctch of theHi STORY Let.. 
 engagements, fhe had taken whilll lie was 
 archduke, bound her no more ; that, by 
 his acccfTion to the empire, the very nature 
 ot them was altered -, that fhe took effec- 
 tual mcaiures to prevent, in any future 
 rime, an union ot the crowns of France 
 and Spain, and, upon the lame piinciple, 
 would not confcnr, much lels right, to 
 bring about an immediate union ot the Im- 
 perial and Spar.ilh crowns v that they, who 
 infilled to protract the war, intended this 
 union -, that they could intend nothing die, 
 iince they ventured to break with her, ra- 
 ther than to treat, and were lo eager to 
 put the rcafonable iati.si action, that they 
 might have in every other cafe without ha- 
 zard, on the uncertain events ot war ; that 
 flie would not be im poled on any longer 
 in this manner, and that flic had ordered 
 her miniltcrs to fign her treaty with France, 
 on the furrender of Dunkirk into her hands ; 
 that Ihe pretended not to prcicribc to her 
 allies but that flic had infilled, in their 
 behalt, on certain conditions, that France 
 was obliged to <;t~ant to thole or them, who 
 fhould fip:n their treaties at the I'.ime thin- 
 as {he did, or \sho fliould couJciH to .1:1 
 immediate ccilation ot arms "<! dur;iv; 
 the cel:at:on treat under her mediation. 
 There had been more trankncls -md moic 
 
 di-ru! y
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 37$ 
 
 dignity in this proceeding, and the effect 
 mull have been more advantageous. France 
 would have granted more for a fcparaie 
 peace, than tor accflation: and the Dutch 
 would have been more influenced by the 
 prolpect of one, than of the other : elpc- 
 cially iince this proceeding would have 
 been, very different from theirs at Mu niter, 
 and at Nimeghen, where they abandoned 
 their allies, without any other pretence 
 than the particular advantage they found 
 in doing lo. A fufpenlion of the opera- 
 tions ot the queen's troops, nay a cefiation 
 of. arms between her and France, was not 
 definitive j and they might, and they did, 
 hope to drag her back under their, and the 
 German yoke. This therefore was not 
 fuincient to check their obitinacy, nor to 
 hinder them from making all the unfortu- 
 nate haile they did make to get thcmfelves 
 beaten at Denain. But they would poili- 
 bly have laid afide their vain hopes, if they 
 had feen the queen's minhters ready to liga 
 her treaty of peace, and thole of fome prin- 
 cipal allies ready to iign at the lame time \ 
 in which cafe the milchief, that: followed, 
 had been prevented, and better terms of 
 peace had been obtained tor the confede- 
 racy : a prince of the houle of Bourbon, 
 who could never be kinq; of France, would 
 
 O 
 
 A a 4 have
 
 376 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let. 8, 
 
 have fat on the Spanifh throne, intlead of 
 an emperor : the Spanifh iccprer would 
 have been weakened in the hands of one, 
 and the Imperial fcepter would have been 
 ftrengthcncd in thole of the other : France 
 would have had no opportunity of recover- 
 ing from former blows, nor of finiming a 
 long unlucceisful war by two luccelsful 
 campaigns : her ambition, and her power, 
 would have declined with her old king, 
 and under the minority that followed : one 
 of them at lealt might have been fo reduced 
 by the terms of peace, if the defeat of the 
 allies in one thoufand feven hundred and 
 twelve, and the lols of fo many towns as 
 the French took in that and the following 
 year, had been prevented, that the other 
 would have been no longer formidable, even 
 fuppofing it to have continued ; whereas I 
 fuppofe that the tranquility of Europe is 
 more due, at this time, to want of ambi- 
 tion, than to want of power, on the part 
 of France. Hut, to curry the companion 
 of thefe two mealunts to the end, it may 
 l>e luppofcd that the Dutch would have 
 tai:; n the lame p:m, on the queen's dc- 
 clarn-' .1 frparate peace, as they took on 
 her declarinrz a ccifaiion. The preparations 
 for the (atr.p.iif'n in the Low countries 
 were muiic i the JJutcl^ like the other con- 
 federates,
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUR oi E. 377 
 
 federates, had a juft confidence in their 
 own troops, and aa unjuft contempt for 
 thofe of the enemy , they were tranfported 
 from their ulual fobriecy ami caution by the 
 ambitious proipe^t of large acquifitions, 
 which had been opened artfully to them ; 
 the red of the confederate army was com- 
 pofed of Imperial and German troops : fo 
 that the Dutch, the Imperialiits, and the 
 other Germans, having an intereft to decide 
 which was no longer the intereft of the 
 whole confederacy, they might have united 
 againft the queen in one cafe, as they did 
 in the other ; and the mifchicf, that fol- 
 lowed to them and the common caufe, 
 might not have been prevented. This 
 might have been the cafe, no doubt. They 
 might have flattered themfelvcs that they 
 (hould be able to break into France, and 
 to force PHILIP, by the diftrcfs brought 
 on his grandfather, to refign the crown of 
 Spain to the emperor, even after Greac 
 Britain, and Portugal, and Savoy too per- 
 haps, were drawn out of the war; for thefe 
 princes defired as little, as the queen, to 
 lee the Spamfh crown on the emperor's 
 head. But, even in this cafe, tho the 
 madnefs would have been greater, the effect 
 would not have been r/orfc. The queen 
 would have been able to fcrve thefe confe- 
 derates
 
 378 A Sketch of the HISTORY Let. 3. 
 derates as well by being mediator in the 
 negotiations, as they left it in her power to 
 do, by being a party in them : and Great 
 Britain would have had the advantage ot" 
 being delivered lo much fooncr from a bur- 
 den, winch whimfical and wicked politics 
 had impolcd, and continued upon her till 
 it was become intolerable. Of thefc two 
 measures, at the time when we might have 
 taken either, there were perlons who 
 thought the lad preferable to the former. 
 But it never came into public debate. In- 
 deed it never could - t too much time hav- 
 ing been loll in waiting; for the option of 
 PHILIP, and the lufpcnlion and celVation 
 having been brought before the council ra- 
 ther as a mealure taken, than a matter to be 
 debated. If your lurdfhip, or any one 
 clle, fiiould judge, that, in fuch circum- 
 itanccs as thole of the confederacy in the 
 be^inninr of one thouland leven hundred 
 
 D D 
 
 and twelve, the latter mealure ought to 
 have been taken, and the Goidian knot to 
 have been cut, rather than to killer a mock 
 treaty to languilh on, with lo much ad- 
 vantage to the French as the dilunion of 
 the allies gave them ; in fhorr, if ilowneis 
 perplexity, inconfillency, and indention 
 ihould be objected, in June initances, to 
 the queui'b eounuis at that tiuc ; 11 u 
 
 fhoulu
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 379 
 
 Ihoukl be laid particularly, that (he did 
 not oblerve the precile moment when the 
 conduct of the league formed againft her, 
 being cxpofed to mankind, would have 
 jultiricd any part fhe Ihould have taken 
 (tho fhe declared, loon alter the moment 
 was palled, that this conduct had let her 
 free from all her engagements) and when 
 ihc ought to have taken that of drawing, 
 by one bold meafure, her allies out of the 
 war, or herlclf out of the confederacy, be- 
 fore Hie loft her influence on France : if all 
 this Ihould be objected, yet would the 
 proofs brought to fupport tliele objections 
 Ihew, that we were better allies than poli- 
 ticians , that the cielire the queen had to 
 treat in concert with her confederates, and 
 the rclolution fhe took not to fi2;n without 
 
 K_J 
 
 them, made her bear what no crowned 
 head had ever born before-, and that where 
 flic erred, me erred principally by the pa- 
 tience, the compliance, and the condefccn- 
 iion fhe excrciled towards them, and to- 
 wards her own fubjects in league with 
 them. Such objections as thefe may lie 
 to the queen's conduct, in the courie of 
 this great affair - 3 as well as objections of 
 human infirmity to that of thole perions em- 
 ployed by her in the tranlaclions of it , 
 from winch neither thole who preceded, 
 
 nor
 
 380 A Sketch of the His TORY Let.S. 
 nor thoic who fucceeded, have, I prefume, 
 been tree. But the principles on which 
 they proceeded were honelr., the means 
 they uled were lawful, and the event they 
 propoled to bring about was jult. Whereas 
 the very foundation of all the oppofition 
 to the peace was laid in injurtice and tolly : 
 for what could be more unjult, than the 
 attempt of the Dutch and the Germans, to 
 force the queen to continue a war tor their 
 private intcrelt and ambition, the dilpro- 
 portionate expcncc of which opprefied the 
 commerce ot her fubjects, and loaded them 
 with debts for ages yet to come ? a war, 
 the object of which was lo changed, that 
 from the year one thoufand leven hundred 
 and eleven fhe made it not only without 
 any engagement, but againft her own, and 
 the common intcrelt ? What could be more 
 looliHi -, you will think that 1 foftcn the 
 tern; too much, and you will be in the 
 right to think, io : what could be more 
 tool ill;, than the attempt of a party in Bri- 
 tain, to protract a war fo ruinous to their 
 country, without any reaion that they durll 
 avow, except that of wreaking the relent- 
 ihu.ts ot Europe on France, and that of 
 uniting the Imperial and Spanifh crowns 
 Oil an Aultrian head ? one oi which was to 
 purchiilc revenge at a puce too de.ir , and 
 
 th-
 
 JLet.8. and State of EUROPF. 381 
 
 the other was toexpofe the liberties of Eu 
 rope to new dangers, by the conclufion of 
 a war which had been made to afTert and 
 lee u re them. 
 
 I HAVE ehvelt the longer on the conduct 
 of thofe who promoted, and of thofe who 
 oppofed, the negotiations of the peace 
 made at Utrecht, and on the comparifort 
 of the meafure purfued by the queen with 
 that which me might have purfued, becaufc 
 the great benefit we ought to reap from the 
 fludy of hiilory, cannot be reaped unlefs 
 we accuftom ourfclves to compare the con- 
 duct of different governments, and differ- 
 ent parties, in the fame conjunctures, and 
 to obferve the meafures they did purfue, 
 and the meaiures they might have purfued, 
 with the actual confequences that followed 
 one, and rhe pofTible, or probable confe- 
 quences, that might have followed the 
 other. By this exercife of the mind, the 
 ftudy of hiftory anticipates, as it were, ex- 
 perience, as I have obferved in one of the 
 rirft of thefe letters, and prepares us for 
 action. If this confideration Ihould not 
 plead a fufficient excufe for my prolixity 
 on this head, I have one more to add that 
 may. A rage of warring poffefied a party 
 in our nation till the death of the late 
 
 queen ;
 
 381 A Sketch of the His TORY Let.S. 
 
 queen: a rage of negotiating has poficiled 
 the lame party of men, ever flnce. You 
 have fccn the confluences of one : you 
 fee actually thole of the other. The rage 
 of warring confirmed the hcp^ary ot our 
 
 L, O J 
 
 nation, which began as early af the revolu- 
 tion ; but then it gave, in the lail war, 
 reputation to our arms, and our councils 
 too. For tho I think, and mult always 
 think, that the principle, on which we 
 adtcd after departing from that laid down 
 in the grand alliance of one thouland feven 
 hundred and o;ie, was wrong : yet ir,t:!t 
 we confcfs that it was purlued wifely, as 
 well as boldly. The ra.;e of negotiating 
 has been a chargeable rage likcwiic, at Icait 
 as chargeable in it's proportion. I ; ar from 
 paying our debts, contracted in war, they 
 continue much the lame, ;u~:cr three and 
 twenty years of prjre. The taxes that op- 
 prels our mercantile imcrcit the molt are 
 ibll in mortgage j aad thole that opnreis 
 the landed inie:c!l the moli, inllead ot be- 
 ing laid on extraordinary occaiions, arc be- 
 come the ordinary lunds tor ti.e current 
 fervice of every year. Tins is ^rievou-, 
 and the more lo to any man, who has t;ie 
 honor ot his country, as well as her pro- 
 fpcmy at lieart, becaule we have net, i \ 
 rhis c.ilc, L.;e .ii: cunl';!a::.;:i v. c h.i.i i.<
 
 . and State of EUROPE. 383 
 
 the other. The rage of negotiating began 
 twenty years ago, under pretence of con- 
 fummating the treaty ot Utrecht : and, 
 from that time to this, our miniftcrs have 
 been in one perpetual maze. They have 
 made themiclves and us, often, objects of 
 averfion to the powers on the continent : 
 and we are become at latt objects of con- 
 tempt, even to the Spaniards. What other 
 effect could our ablurd conduct have ? 
 What other return has it delerved ? We 
 came exhaulted out of long wars ; and, in- 
 Itead of purluing the mealures neceliary to 
 give us means and opportunity to repair our 
 itrcngth and to diminifh our burdens, our 
 minitlers have acted, trom that time to 
 this, like men who fought pretences to 
 keep the nation in the fame exhautted con- 
 dition, and under the fame load of debt. 
 This may have been their view perhaps ; 
 and we could not be lurprifed if we heard 
 the fame men declare national poverty ne- 
 ceflary to fupport the prelent government, 
 who have fo frequently declared corruption 
 and a Handing army to be fo. Your good 
 fenle, my lord, your virtue, and your 
 love of your country, will always deter- 
 mine you to oppofe luch vile fchemes, and 
 to contribute* your utmoil towards the cure 
 (if both theie kinds oi: rage ; the rage of 
 
 warring,
 
 384 ASketchoftheHisTORv Lcf.8. 
 
 warring, without any proportionable intereft 
 of our own, for the ambition of others -, 
 and the rage of negotiating, on every oc- 
 cafton, at any rate, without a furficient 
 cali to it, and without any part of that de- 
 ciding influence which we ought to have. 
 Our nation inhabits an ifland, and is one 
 of the principal nations of Europe j but, 
 to maintain this rank, we muft take the 
 advantages of this lituation, which have 
 been neglected by us for almoft half a cen- 
 tury : we mult always remember, that we 
 are not part of the continent, but we mult 
 ncrer forget that we are neighbours to it. 
 1 will conclude, by applying a rule, that 
 HORACE gives for the conduct ok an epic 
 or dramatic poem, to the part (jrcat Bri- 
 tain ought to take in the affairs of the con- 
 tinent, 'f you allow me to transform Bri- 
 tannu into a male divinity, as the verie 
 requires. 
 
 Nee Deus intcrfit, nifi dignus vindicc nodus 
 Iiiciderit. 
 
 If thefc reflection* arr juft, and I fhould 
 not have offered them to your lordfnip had 
 they not appeared both juft and important 
 to my belt undcrftamlinr, you will think 
 that 1 have not Ipent your time unp rofitably
 
 Let. 8. ami State of EUROPE. 
 
 in making them, i-ncl exciting you by them 
 to examine the t; ue iiucrclt of your coun- 
 try rel.uivdy to foreign affairs ; rind to 
 compare ir with thole principles of conduct, 
 that 1 am pcrluack'd, havr no oth'-r foun- 
 dation than party -defigns, prejudices, and 
 habits-, the private itucrett of fome men 
 and the inorance and ra!hnefs of others, 
 
 
 MY letter is grown (b long, that I (hall 
 fay nothing to your lordlhip, at this time 
 concerning the itudy of modern hiitory, 
 relatively to the interelts of your country 
 in domeitic affairs-, and 1 think there will 
 be no need to do lo at any other. The 
 Hiitory of the rebellion by your gre;lt 
 grand tat her, and his private memorials, 
 which your lord (hip has in manulcript, will 
 guide you furely as far as they 2;o : wliere 
 they leave you, your lordihip mint not ex- 
 peA any hiilory , for we have mure realbn 
 to make this complaint, " abclt enim hi- 
 " itoria lireris noftri^," than TULLV had 
 to put it i:uo the uiovirh of ATTICUS, in 
 his fine book of law-. But W!KTC hiliory 
 leaves you, it is wantrd le.il : the tradi- 
 tions of t'r.s - . .irurv, .:n-.1 ot t'''e latter end 
 of tiie l.ut, ait: t:\;h. M. 4 r, /, who \.jrj 
 actors in I;,;TIC ri tiu-ic (.vein-;, arc alive-; 
 and many who have conv'.rkd \vith t'^'ic 
 ij b that
 
 386 A Sketch of the Hi STORY Let.8. 
 
 that were actors in others. The public is in 
 poiTeflion of fcvrral collections and memo- 
 rials, and fcvcral there arc in private hands. 
 You will want no materials to form true 
 notions of tranfactions fo recent. Kven 
 pamphlets, writ on different fides and on 
 different occafions in our party difputes, 
 and hiftories of no more authority than 
 pamphlets, will help you to come at truth. 
 Read them with lufpicion, my lord, tor 
 they dcfcrve to be tu (peeled : pay no re- 
 gard to the epithets given> nor to the judg- 
 ments patted -, neglect all declamation, 
 weigh the reafoning, and advert to fact. 
 With fuch precautions, even BURNET'S 
 hillory may be of lomc ule. In a word, 
 your lordfhip will want no help of mine to 
 dilcovcr, by what progrcffion the whole 
 conllitution of our country, and even the 
 character of our nation, has been altered : 
 nor how much a worlc ule, in a national 
 fenle, tho a better in the fcnle of party po- 
 liticks, the men called Whigs have made of 
 long wars and new fy Items of revenue, 
 lince the revolution , than the men called 
 Tories made, before it, of Ion:; peace, and 
 f\a!e prerogative. When you look back 
 three or lour generation;, ago, you will kc 
 that the Knglifh were a plain, perhaps a 
 rough, but a good-natured holpiuble pro-
 
 Let. 8. and State of EuRePE. 387 
 
 pic, jealous of their liberties, and able as 
 well as ready to defend them, with their 
 tongues, their pens, and their fwords. The 
 reiteration began to turn hofpitality into 
 luxury, pleafure into debauch, and coun- 
 try peers and country commoners into coup- 
 tiers and men of mode. But whiltt our 
 luxury was young, it was little more than 
 elegance : the debauch of that age was en- 
 livened with wit, and varnifhed over with 
 gallantry. The courtiers and the men of 
 mode knew what the coriftitution was, 
 relpccted it, and often aflerted it. Arts 
 and Iciences flourifhcd, and, if we grew 
 more trivial, we were not become either 
 grofsly ignorant, or openly profligate. Since) 
 the revolution, our kings have been re- 
 duced indeed to a feeming annual depend- 
 ance on parliament ; but the bufmels of 
 parliament, which was etlcemed in general 
 a duty before, has been exercifed in gene* 
 ral as a trade fmce. The trade of parlia- 
 ment, and the trade of funds, have grown 
 univerfal. Men, who Hood forward in the 
 world, have attended to little elfe. The 
 frequency of parliaments, that increaled 
 their importance, and fhould have increafed 
 the reipect of them, has taken off from 
 trreir dignity : and the fpirit that prevailed, 
 v.inllt the lervice in them \vas duty, has 
 B b 2 bvL-.-i
 
 ;S8 A Sketchof thcHiSToRY Let. 8. 
 
 O 
 
 been dcbafcd fmcc it became a trade. Few 
 know, and fcarcc any reipcct, the Britifh 
 ccnftitution : that of the church has been 
 long fince derided \ that of the State as 
 long neglected ; and both have been left 
 at the mercy of the men in power, who- 
 ever thofe men were. Thus the Church, 
 at lead the hierarchy, however facred in 
 it's origin or wile in it's inllitution, is be- 
 come an ufckfs burden on the State : and 
 the State is become, under ancient and 
 known forms, a new and undefinable mon- 
 iter , compofed of a king without monar- 
 chical fplencior, a fenate of nobles without 
 ariftocratical independency, and a fenate of 
 commons without democratical freedom. 
 In the mean time, my lord, the very idea 
 of wit, and all that can be called tafle, has 
 been loft among the great ; arts and fcicnces 
 are fcarce alive; luxury has been increafed 
 but not refined i corruption lias been efta- 
 blifhed, and is avowed. When govern- 
 ments are worn out, thus it is : the decay 
 apjxrars in every inflancc. Public and pri- 
 vate virtue, public and private fpirit, fci- 
 ence and wit, decline all together. 
 
 THAT you, my lord, may have a long 
 and t.:li>rious fhare in rdtoring all thele, 
 aiid in drawing our government back to 
 
 the
 
 Let. 8. and State of EUROPE. 389 
 
 the true principles of it, I wifh mod hear- 
 tily. Whatever errors I may have com- 
 mitted in public lite, I have always loved 
 my country: whatever faults may be ob- 
 jected to me in private life, I have always 
 loved my friend : whatever ufage I have 
 received from my country, it (hall never 
 make me break with her: whatever ufage 
 I have received from my friends, I never 
 fhall break with one of them, while I 
 think him a friend to my country. Thefe 
 are the fentiments of my heart. I know 
 they are thofe of your lordfhip's : and a 
 communion of fuch fentiments is a tye 
 that will engage me to be, as long as I 
 live, 
 
 My lord, 
 
 Your moft faithful fervant 
 
 Bb 3
 
 ( 39' ) 
 
 A PLAN 
 
 FORA 
 
 General Hiftory of EUROPE. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 IS II ALL take the liberty of writing 
 to you a little oftener than the three or 
 tour times a year, which, you tell me, are 
 all you can allow yourfclf to write to thofe 
 you like belt : and yet 1 declare to you 
 with great truth, that you never knew me 
 fo buly in your life, as I am at prefent. 
 You mult not imagine from hence, that I 
 am writing memoirs of myfelf. The lub- 
 jcct is too flight to delcend to pofterity, in 
 any other manner, than by that occasional 
 mention which may be made of any little 
 actor in the hiftory of our age. SVLLA, 
 CAESAR, and others of that rank, were, 
 whiltt they lived, at the head of mankind : 
 their Itory was in ibme fort the itory or the 
 B b 4 world,
 
 392 A PLAN for a Let. i, 
 
 world, and as fuch mi^ht very properly be 
 transmitted u:u;er their names 10 future 
 generations. Hut lor thole who have acted 
 much interior parts, it they publim the 
 piece, and call it attcr their own names, 
 they arc impertinent i if thcv publifh only 
 their own mare in it, they inform mankind 
 by halves, and ru-hhcr give much inltruc- 
 tiori, nor create much aiu-nr: >r>. Fiance 
 abounds with writers of this !;>rr, and, I 
 think, we fall ii. to the other extreme. Let 
 rv. r u-il \ou, on this oicahun, what has 
 fomui.'nes come in:o m thouhts. 
 
 is hardly any century in liillory 
 which l-.^un by opening i'j grc.it a Icene, 
 as the century w!.-. :xi:i we live, and fliall 
 1 fuppoie, die. Compare it wit! 1 , other/, 
 eve;; the f:^o(t famous, and you v. ill iliinL 
 fo. i \vili !ketch :!:L- f.vy lail, to h^lj. joi.r 
 ncmory. 
 
 Tui: l!>!s or" that h..l..n, ; v,-] K , ii I.v/- 
 Rt\ii. oi Medicis !i u! prelervc\i, liuinuj; 
 I.:, tiriu', i:i Italy i tiie expedition (A 
 .LHAK.-.LS :!e e;:* ; i:'i [> N.ipk-i the in- 
 tri{,n;es <M t!ic duke cr MILAN, w!:-) Jjuin, 
 \viil; .ill '\:c re.ir.r;;r.enf. <J. .:it, tli.ii net 
 v.'iiei\iM i.t- V.M'I t..!xe:i .;: i.iii hiirleh ; t:;c 
 ij^rt:--.!'..! iltxtenry oi i-'i :. IMNV.MJ ti:e C.i-
 
 Let. I. General HiRory of EUROPE. 393 
 
 tholic, who built one pillar of the Aullrian 
 greatnefs in Spain, in Italy, and in the 
 Indies -, as the fucccfiion of the houfc of 
 Bur unciy, joined to the Imperial dignity 
 and the lu reditary countries, eftabhfhfd 
 anoJici ui die upper and lower Germany : 
 thclc Luin'-s, and many others, combined 
 to form a very extraordinary conjuncture; 
 and, by their conic-quinces, to render the 
 fixteencli century fruitful of great events, 
 and of altonilhing revolutions. 
 
 o 
 
 THE beginning 01 the leventeenth open- 
 ed Itill a greater and more important fcene. 
 The Spanilh yoke was well-nigh impoled 
 on Italy by the famous triumvirate, TOLEDO 
 at Milan, OSSUNA at Naples, and LA- 
 CUEVA at Venice. The detractions of 
 France, as well as the ftate-policy of the 
 queen mother, fed need by Rome, and 
 amuled by Spain ; the defpicable character 
 of our JAMES the firll, the rafhnefs of the 
 elector Palatine, the bad intelligence of the 
 princes and dates of the league in Germany, 
 the mercenary temper of JOHN* GEORGE of 
 Saxony, and the great qualities of MAXI- 
 MILIAN of Bavaria, railed FLRDINAND the 
 lecond to the Imperial throne-, when, the 
 males of the elder branch of the Auftrian 
 family in Germany being extir.guifhed at 
 
 the
 
 394 A PLAN for a Let. i. 
 
 the death of MATTHIAS, nothing was more 
 definable, nor perhaps more practicable, 
 than to throw the empire into another houfc. 
 Germany ran the fame rifque as Italy had 
 done: FERDINAND feemed more likely, 
 even than CHARLES the fifth had been, to 
 become abfolute matter ; and, if France 
 had not furnifhed the greutcll miniiter, and 
 the North the greatcll captain, of that 
 age, in the fame point of time, Vienna and 
 Madrid would have given the law to the 
 \veftcrn world. 
 
 As the Auftrian fcalc funk, that of Bour- 
 bon rofe. The true date of the rife of that 
 power, which has made the kings of France 
 Jo confiderable in Europe, goes up as high 
 as CHARLES the fcventh, and LEWIS the 
 eleventh. The weaknels of our HENRY 
 the fixth, the luole conduct of F.DWARD 
 the fourth, and perhaps the overfights of 
 HENRY the fcventh, helped very much to 
 knit that monarchy together, as well as to 
 enlarge it. Advantage might have been 
 taken of the divifions which religion occa- 
 fioned ; and fupportinp the protcltant par- 
 ty in France would have kept that crown 
 under reftraints, and under inabilities, in 
 lomc me.nurc equal to thole wlncli wei>- 
 occasioned anciently by the vyft alienation^
 
 Let. i. General I liftory of EUROPE. 395 
 
 of its demcfnes, and by the exorbitant 
 power of its valfals. But JAMES the firft 
 was incapable of thinking with fcnfe, or 
 acting with fpirit. CHARLES the firft had 
 an imperfect glimpfe of his true intcrcft, 
 but his uxorious temper, and the extrava- 
 gancy of that madman BUCKINGHAM, gave 
 RICHELIEU time to finilh a great part of 
 his project : and the mileries, that followed 
 in England, gave MAZARINE time and op- 
 portunity to complete the lyftem. The 
 laft great act of this cardinal's adminiflra- 
 lion was the Pyrenean treaty. 
 
 HERE I would begin, by reprcfenting 
 the face of Europe fuch as it was at that 
 epocha, the interefts and the conduct of 
 England , France, Spain, Holland, and 
 the empire. A fummary recapitulation 
 fhould follow of all the fteps taken by 
 France, during more than twenty years, to 
 arrive at the great object fhe had propoled 
 to herlelf in making this treaty : the molt 
 folemn article of which the minilter, who 
 negotiated it, defigned fhould be violated ; 
 as appears by his letters, writ from the 
 Ifland of Pheafants, if I miftake not. After 
 this, another draught of Europe fhould 
 have it's place according to the relations, 
 which the ieveral powers flood in, one to- 
 wards
 
 396 A PL A N for a Lct.i. 
 
 wards another, in one thoufand fix hun- 
 dred and eighty eight : and the alterations 
 which the revolution in England made in 
 the politicks of Europe. A luminary ac- 
 count fhouid follow of the events of the 
 war that ended in one thoufand fix hun- 
 dred and ninrty fcvcn, with the different 
 views of king WILLIAM the third, and 
 LEWIS the fourteenth, in making the peace 
 ofRyfwic; which matter haj> been much 
 canvaficd, and is little underftooci. Then 
 the dilpofn '.ns ir.-i^e by the partition-trea- 
 ties, nd the iiJitiv-nu 1 * and confequences 
 Oi thefe treaties i and a tl. rd dr. night of 
 the fta.e 01 Europe at the death oi CHARLES 
 the fecund of Spain. All this would make 
 the fubjedt of one or two books, and would 
 be the rru>lt proj^-r introduction imagina- 
 ble to an hiitory of that war with which 
 our century bc/:.n, and of the peace which 
 followed. 
 
 THIS war, forcfcT.i for above half a cen- 
 tury, hud been, o..ng all that time, the 
 great and conitant objccl of the councils of 
 Europe. The pti.- to be contended for 
 was the richeit i!; i ever had been flaked, 
 fince tlioie of the Perlian and Roman em- 
 pires. The union of two powers, winch 
 Fcparatcly, and in oppofition, had aimed 
 
 at
 
 Let. I. General Hiftory of EUROPE. 397 
 
 at univerfal monarchy, was apprehended. 
 The confederates therefore engaged in it, 
 to maintain a balance between the two 
 houfes of Auftria and Bourbon, in order' 
 to preferve their fecurity, and to aftert their 
 independance. But with the fucccfs of the 
 war they changed thHr views : and, if 
 ambition began it on the fide of France, 
 ambition continued it on the other. The 
 battles, the fieges, the furpriting revolu- 
 tions, which happened in the courier of this 
 war, are not to be paralleled in any pe- 
 riod of the fame com pals. The motives, 
 and the meafures, by which it was pro- 
 tracted, the true reafons why it ended in a 
 manner, which appeared not proportiona- 
 ble to it's fucccfs , and the new political 
 flate into which Europe was thrown by 
 the treaties of Utrecht an.l Baden, are fub- 
 jefts on which few perf vis have tiie necef- 
 fary informations, and yet every one fpeaks 
 with affurance, and even with pafiion. I 
 think I could fpeak on them with lome 
 knowledge, and with as much indifference 
 as POL YB i us does of the negotiations of 
 his father LYCORTAS, even in thofe points 
 where 1 was mylclf an actor. 
 
 I WILL even confefs to you, that I mould 
 not dcipuir of pertorminj this prt better
 
 A PL A .v for a Let. r, 
 
 than the former. There it nothing in my 
 opinion fo hard to execute, as thole poli- 
 tical maps, if you will allow me fuch an 
 expreftion, and thofe fyftems of hints, ra- 
 ther than relations of events, which are 
 necefTiry to connect and explain them , and 
 which mull be fo concife, and yet fo full - t 
 fo complicate, and yet fo clear. I know 
 nothing of this iou well done by the an- 
 fients. SALLUST'S introduction, as well as 
 that of THUCYDIDES, might fervc almoit 
 for any other piece of the Roman or Greek 
 (lory, as well as for thole which ihcfe two 
 great authors chofc. POI.VBIUS does not 
 come up, in his introduction, to this idea 
 neither. Among the moderns, the tirl't 
 book of MACHIAVEL'S Hillary of Florence 
 is a noble original of this kind : and per- 
 haps taihcr PATI.'S Hillory or Benefices is, 
 in the fame kind of compoiition, inimitable. 
 
 TKI.SE nrc a few of thofe thoughts, which 
 come into my mind when I confider how 
 incumbent it is on every man, that he 
 Ihuuld be able to give an account even of 
 his leifure; and, in the midll of lolitude, 
 be of (cine ufe to locieiy. 
 
 I KNOW not whether I ih.ill h.ivc courage 
 enough to undertake the talk I have 
 
 choked
 
 Let. i. General Hiftory of EUROPE. 399 
 
 chalked out : I diltruit my abilities with 
 realon, and I Ihall want fcveral informa- 
 tions, not eaiy, I doubt, for me to obtain. 
 But, in all events, ic will not be poffible 
 for me to go about it this yearj the rea- 
 ions of which would be long enough to fill 
 another letter, and I doubt that you will 
 think this grown too bulky already. 
 
 Adieu.
 
 t 401 ] 
 
 OF T II K 
 
 T -RUE USE 
 
 O F 
 
 R E T j R i: M K N T and S T u D v : 
 
 To the Ri<;ht Honourable 
 
 Lord 13 A T II U R S T. 
 
 L K T T K R II. 
 
 SINCE my b.fl to v<nir lordOiip, tin's 
 is ihr iint r;ivorui;tc ypp;>! tuni'.y I 
 have hud of Kcei'iii^ the promilc I nip.dc 
 you. I will .i\\ id | roiixiiy, a:. nidi ar, I 
 can, in i!;^ lint tli-.iu j'li': ot my choi^iKs 
 but I r.iii:! X ' v - vou ilicMi as they rii-j in 
 my ;::;...!, v. ,;..iOu; :hi;. ;:i.z to iv.arlhal t!i.-:u 
 in cluic v,. :.r. 
 
 Ar. proi.\l .is wo rre or !i;;r^::n renlbn, 
 noth;:^ 1:1 lu ni r.; .il'iiir^i t,';j.n the ge- 
 neral i_. 'V.-:ii of !'.u:ii;:.i !ue, and human 
 kr.ov.'lcdi:'.'. Th:^ fV/Juirv ;>i diihn^'.rlhini; 
 true iroi.i i.i:L\ ,:..hc I.-JMI ^ron^, ar.J 
 C e \vluc
 
 402 Of the trne Ufc of Let. 2. 
 
 what is agreeable-, from what is repugnant, 
 to nature, cither by one ailt, or by a longer 
 procch of intuition, has not been given 
 with lo tparing a hand, as many appear- 
 ances would make us apt to believe. It* 
 it was cultivated, therefore, as early, and 
 as carefully as it might be, and if the cx- 
 crcife of it was left generally as tree as it 
 ought to be, our common notions and 
 opinions wouki be more conionant to truth 
 t <an they are : and, truth being but one, 
 t ley vsould be raorc uniform liktwile. 
 
 BUT this rightful miftrefs of human life 
 and kruwUxl^e, whole proper office it is 
 to prduie over both, and to dued us in 
 the coruliia if one and the pt:rh.it 01 the 
 other, becomes degraded in the intellectual 
 occor.omy. She is reduced to a mean and 
 fervilc lute, to the vile drudgery of con- 
 niving at principles, defending opinion?, 
 and i or. ri. TV.: no; habits, that are none of 
 hers. They, who do her mo ft honor, 
 v.h > ( on, uit her ottenril, ai.d obey her too 
 very <;!icn, arc llill j.Hiilt^ ci liiiiiting her 
 an:'. ::v .11 cortim^ to ni.ixi.n% and iu!e% 
 ar..! k!.i-tr,c:., th.r. cfi.un.~e, <: i^noranrc, 
 ;<((. firfl deviled, and that cult'/m 
 I'.n'.'il 1 '^: c;.ltom. rhat refuk of the pai- 
 fitj.'ib j rcutiicc^ ol ir.any, and of the
 
 Let. 2. RnTlJtENtF.ST and STUDV. 40-5 
 
 defigns of a few: that ape of reaf.Mi, who 
 ufurps her fear, cxcrcifes her power, and 
 is obeyed by mankind in h.-r (lead. Mrn 
 find it eaiy, and government makes it pro- 
 fitable, to concur in eftablifhed lyiten.s of 
 fpecularion and practice : and the whole 
 turn of education prepares them to live 
 Upon credit all their lives. Much pains 
 are taken$ and time bellowed, to teach us 
 what to think , but little or none of either, 
 to inltruct us how to thiiik. The maga- 
 zine of the memory is llored and Hurled 
 betimes: but the conduct of the unJcr- 
 ilanding is ail ;itong ncukvteJ, and the 
 tree excrcilc of it is. ;n i -flt-ct, forbid in all 
 places, and in terms in ion:e. 
 
 THERE is a (trange diilruft of human 
 tvaion in every human inititution : this dil- 
 truil is lo apparent, th.it an habitual lub- 
 mifnon to lonie authority, or oilier, k 
 forming in us from our cradles; that prin- 
 ciples of r^.ilonin;?, and matters of f.ift, 
 arc inculcated in our tender minds, bctore 
 r/e are able to C\'!;:T!-- that iv.ilon, and 
 that, \viien we arc able to cxcrcife it, we 
 are either forbid, or rn-.-hix-ru'd fr>-;'n duin<); 
 lo, even 0:1 things that arc ihemfelves the 
 [iropcr objfvlls ot realbn, 'or ti.at arc d/ii- 
 C c 2 vcrcd
 
 404. Of the true Ule of Let. 2. 
 
 vtred to us upon an authority whole luffi- 
 cicncy or inliiHicicncy is lo moil evidently- 
 
 ON many fubje&s, fuch as the general 
 laws of natural religion, and the general 
 rules o: locirtv and go-)d policy, men oi 
 all countries a.ui languages, \vho cultivate 
 their realon, |ud_e alike, 'i'hc lame prc- 
 rnik'S have led them to the lame conclu- 
 iions, and K-, toliov. ir:* the lame guide, 
 they h.ivc tro.i in the lame pal h : at leall, 
 thv dillcrciK^.-. are lu-.all, eauly reconciled, 
 and Inch as cou'd not ot ilumlelves, con- 
 traJ.iflin. '.nih n.::ion trom nation, religion 
 tV(^m religion, and ICCL ircm lect. i low 
 coiv.es it then, that there are other p-oints, 
 on \\l\\: h ii;e moil oj'pohte opiinons are 
 cntrrtnincd, and lome ot tiule wuh lo 
 nvj.ii heit, aiid Hirv, that the nun on one 
 fide ot t'.e h-'d^e will die irthe aiiiima- 
 tuc, .::.! the iv.en on t!',v otlur Jt.<r the ne- 
 rat;\\ r l - I'm. tr oj. :i.; n til ali'-Y. tone 
 11 ; "iir le Lure cpcu;iT au pnx tie la vie," 
 l.:vs NT/.GNt, v.'o;;, 1 i.trcn tjuote, as 
 1 i'o x ;..-, \, r. 1 .: r n the Imarrnels ot ex- 
 } ; > !.' /:', t....n t:. v. i i'^iit or nt n< Is -t m.if- 
 t . I. i . .:)/. i. :: : it, atul you will ii. d 
 ta.it lii j "i!V, s ;.._: ccd on, and the j u:;its 
 dii|:u:e.i, ..:e not j ; . ] oitionable to the 
 
 common
 
 Let. 2. RF.TIRFMKNT and STUDY. 405 
 
 common fcnle and genera! rcafon of man- 
 kind. Nature and truth arc the lame every 
 where, and realon mews them every where 
 alike. Hut the accidental and other caufes, 
 which <iive rile and growth to opinions, 
 boih in Ipeculation and pracftke, arc of in- 
 finite vancry ; and where ever thele opi- 
 nions arc once confirmed by cullom and 
 propagated by education, various, incon- 
 iilt<-iu, contradictory as they are, they all 
 pretend (and all their pretences are backed 
 by pride, by pafi'ion, and by interell to 
 have realon, or revelation, or both, on 
 their fide , tho neither realon or revela- 
 tion can be poflibly on the. lide of more 
 than one, and may be pofTibly on the fide 
 of none. 
 
 Tr.rs it happens that the people of Tibet 
 are Tartars and idolaters, that they arc- 
 Turks and Mahometans at Conftanrinople, 
 
 Italians and 1'apills at Rome -, and how 
 much foever education may be L'ls con- 
 fined, and the means of knowledge more 
 attainable, in France and oyr own country, 
 yet thus it happens in great mealure that 
 Frenchmen and Roman Catholics are bred 
 at Pans, and Englilhmen and pruieuants 
 at London. F^or men, indeed, j rojx-rly 
 
 ipcakinor, are bred no where : c\vr, one 
 
 * r 
 
 C c ili.nks
 
 406 Of ihe true Ufo of Lit. 2. 
 
 thinks the lyiU-m, as he Ipeaks the lan- 
 guage, of hi., country, at ieati there arc 
 tew that think, and none that a-:-., in any 
 country, according to the dictates or puro 
 unbuild reuion imlcls they nuv be laid 
 to ;o !o, whin reaion directs $hem to fpeak 
 and act according to the fyllem of their 
 country, or icct, at the lame time ns Ihe 
 leads them to think according to that of 
 nature and truiji. 
 
 THUS the far grearcft p.irt of mankind 
 appears reduced to a lower ll.ite than oilier 
 animals, in that very relpcci", on account 
 ot which we claim 1o i n-ai luptnority over 
 them ; becaule n.ttinct, tint has its due 
 cHlct, is preferable to re.ilcn that has not. 
 I luppole in this place, \\ithphilolophi-ri, 
 and the vulgar, that which 1 am in r,o w:!c 
 ready to nifimi, th.a other annr.als have no. 
 fliarc of human realon : ior, let n:e lay by 
 the way, it is rv.uili n ore h!;clv other am- 
 rr.als fliould fha-r the lu;n;an, whiiii ;s de- 
 nied, tlian that man liquid iliare tiie ui- 
 vine reafon, which is aiiimial. Uur, iup- 
 pofing our monopoly ot reaion, vkouid not 
 your lord.lhip chul? to walk, uj .on lour lfj^, 
 to wear a IOIILJ; t.iil, ai-.i to lx- called a be.:lt, 
 with the adv..:::..; . ,>t ben;,! d.e;iTmine<l by 
 irreiiil.ble and untniJU 1 ; jjjlunct to thole 
 
 truths
 
 Let. 2. RETIREMENT and STUDY. 407 
 
 truths that arc neceflary to your well being; 
 rather than to walk on two legs, to wear 
 no tail, and to be honored with the title 
 of man, at the cxpencc of deviating from 
 them perpetually ? Inllmct acts fponta- 
 neoufly whenever it's action is necefiVy, 
 and directs tlie animal according to the pur- 
 pofe for which it was implanted in him. 
 Realon is a nobler and more extenfivc ta- 
 culty ; for it extends to the unnccelT!:ry as 
 well as neceftary, and to fatisfy our cunofi- 
 ty a well as our wants : hut realon mult be 
 excited, or flic will remain inactive-, flu- mult 
 be left tree, or fhe will conduct us wron^r, 
 and carry us farther aftray from her own pre- 
 cinc'ts than we fhuuld go without her help . 
 in the nrit cafe, we have no fulBcicnt guide : 
 and in the fecond, the more we c:nph;y our 
 realon, the more unreaionable we are. 
 
 Now if all this be fo, if region has fj 
 little, and ignorance, pafTion, intereit, and 
 cuilom fo much to do, in forming our 
 opinions and our habits, and in directing 
 the whole conduct ot human life; is it noc 
 a thing defireable by every thinking man, 
 to have the opportunity, indulged to fo 
 few by the courle of accidents, the oppor- 
 tunity " fee urn efle, tt fecum vivcre," of 
 living fome years at leait to ourfelve?, and 
 C c 4 for
 
 Of the true Ufc of Let. 2, 
 
 fo. ' air'l Ki>, in a f!.r.e rf freedom, up- 
 c!'. ;vs or re..i;,n, initead or' jv. fling 
 
 our v, hub- time in a itate cf vaftalagc un- 
 der th ;;e cf authority and cuftom '". Is :L 
 nut wjrrh our \\hilc to contemplate our- 
 lelv , and others, and all the thin, s i,f 
 this world, once before v, e le.ive them, 
 thrcjgh tii-j medium of pure, and, ii'I may 
 i.iv lo, G: i':v,.c:"iled real'-n ? I.-, i: r.ot v/urtli 
 cur v, Iiile to aj.j-rove t r cond(.ir,n, on our 
 own author'n y, v. I.ut we reieiveia t'ie bc- 
 gipr.ii:^ <: liiec'. the authority oi c;t!ie:' men, 
 who v.ere not tlien be'.rer able t > jv:d; :e lor 
 us, th^n \vc are JV-. -.v to judge for cuilllves r 
 
 'I' \T t'-.is iv.:) be done, and, !'...s been 
 don. io iviir.Jiii; :ee, by men who remain- 
 ed . r.h iv. re 11':;.- !v\i i!; n I tlJ".. ; .o be 
 {; '.- i"' !<<, i-i !'" c .>;p; :u.;. ;:: 
 
 ; - ' I .-. .- : , , - . . . ' . 
 
 o ai
 
 . RET IREMFNT and STUDY. 409 
 
 were, into pure intellect, is proud, n'.cta- 
 phytical, unmeaning jargon : but to abf- 
 tract ouriel-cs horn the prejudices, and 
 habile, and pleaiures, aiul bulinels of the 
 world, i:, -no more th.m many arc, tho all 
 arc not, capable or doing. They who can 
 do tliis, may elevate their louls in retreat 
 to an higher ilatiDn, and may take from 
 thence Inch a view of the world, as the fc- 
 cond Scino took in his dream, from the 
 leats of the blelfcd, when the whole earth 
 appeared Jo little to him, tint he could 
 icarce tlifcern that fpeck of dirr, the R )- 
 man empire. Such a view as -tins \\ill 
 cncrealj cur knowledge by (hewing us (>ur 
 ignoranc^ , \viii diibnguifh every decree 
 of probability trom the io\\\-lt to the li;<jh- 
 eit, aiKi iiiark the oillance bet \veen tiiat 
 and certainty ; will dilpd the inroxicating 
 fumes ot philosophical prellmiption, atui 
 teach us to ell iblilh our pea:c ot m:". J, 
 whc.rc alone it can nit fecurely, in refi^- 
 nation : in ln:>rr, luch a view will render 
 lite more mrreeablf. and tieatli K'is tern 1 .)!?. 
 Is not this buiinefs, my lord ? Is r.o: this 
 p leal lire too, the hiLJivil pl'.-aliire ? '1 :>c 
 v,\;rld can atibrd us none iucii , we mu't 
 retire from the world to raile ;: \vith a I'eil 
 guil -, but we ih.ill talte ir t!ie bert -r f>r 
 havin been in t!ve world. The ili-.re oi
 
 410 Of the true Ufe of Let. 2. 
 
 kniual pltafures, that a man of my age 
 can promifc himielf, is hardly worth atten- 
 tion : he (hould be fated, he will be foon 
 difabled -, and very little reflection furcly 
 will fuirkc, to make his habits of this kind 
 lole their power over him, in proportion 
 at Icalt as his power of indulging them di- 
 ininilhcs. Bciidcs, your lordlhip knows 
 that my icheme of retirement rxcludes none 
 of thele plcafures that can be taken with 
 dccciuy and convcnicncy , and to lay the 
 truth, J believe that 1 allow myfelf more 
 in (peculation, than I fliall find I want in 
 pr^cikL*. Ai to the habits of bufmels, 
 they can have no hoM on one who has been 
 fo Jonf$ ti;ccl with it. You may object, 
 thai tLo a man has difcardcd thele habits, 
 and has rv.it even .iic embers ot ambition 
 ab-Hjc in.;} to revive them, yec he cannot 
 renounce ail public Iniiinels as abfolutely 
 as 1 ll-em to do-, becaule a belter princi- 
 ple, a principle or duty, may lummon him 
 to the krvice of his country. I will aniwcr 
 you \wth great linccnty. No man has 
 higher notions of this duty than 1 have. 
 I think that icarce any age, or circum- 
 itances tan difcharge is entirely from it-, 
 no, not my own. hut as we are apt to 
 take the impullc of our own palfiom, lor 
 a call to ihc performance of ihii duty ; fo 
 
 wi.cri
 
 f 2. RETIREMENT and STUDV. 41 1 
 
 when thelc puflions impel us no longer, 
 the call th.t puts us upon aclion mult be 
 real, and loud too. Add to this, that 
 there arc different methods, proportioned 
 to different circumftanccs and fituations, 
 of performing the lame duty. In the 
 midlt of retreat, where ever it may be 
 fixed, I may contribute to defend and pre- 
 ferve the Britilh conilitution of govern- 
 ment ; and you, my lord, may depend 
 upon me, that whenever I can, I will. 
 Should any one afk you, in this cafe, from 
 whom I- expect my reward ? Anfwcr him 
 by declaring to whom I pay this fervice; 
 " Deo immortuii, qui me non accipere 
 " modo hacc a majoribus voluit, led etiaai 
 " polteris prodere." 
 
 BUT, to lead the life I propofe with fa- 
 tisfadlion and profit, renouncing the plea- 
 fures and bufinefs of the world, and break- 
 ing the habits of both, is not fufficient : 
 the lupine creature whole underftanding is 
 fuperficially employed, through life, about 
 a tew general notions, and is never bent 
 to a dole and fteady purfuit of truth, may 
 renounce the pleafurcs and bufinefs of the 
 world, for even in the bufinefs of the 
 world we fee fu.h creatures often employed, 
 and may break the habits , nay he may re- 
 tire
 
 412 Of the true Ulc of Let. 2. 
 
 tire and drone away life in folitude, like a 
 monk, or like him over the door of whole 
 houle, as it his huufe had been his tomb, 
 (bmcbody writ, "Here lies fuch an one.'* 
 But no inch man will be able to make the 
 true ufe of reti ement. The employment 
 of his irund, that would have been agree- 
 able and ealy if he h.id accultomed hm lelf 
 to itcarl\, will be unj.leabnc ard :mp:ac- 
 tica.-le l.ae : Inch men 1< lc their mullcclual 
 pc\v rs lor the \\ant of exe.tmg th'-m, and, 
 havinj; tntied aw.u south, aie retluced to 
 t;-,e nr.MM'v of t-ili n / a\vay a^e. It tares 
 vith th. .'h.iul juit .. - i: docs with the body. 
 1 L- \vh . -vas [...in v. irh a texture of brain 
 a< )\ron; r , as that <; Niwrov, may beeon.c 
 iia.-.:.M_- to j.ert ' ;n the common rules ot 
 ?.n:!i:. eiic : ji::; as he who has the lame 
 f,.uiti , in hi- i, uiVK- , the fame iuj-ple- 
 reU ..i i.,5 i^iirf-, ..n-i all h;s nerves a:M 
 iiiu-'-.s as \\eil hraeed .'' j-xcon H.M.J., in'y 
 bixoii.e a tat unwi^Uv iui/!j.:i\l. Yi : lar- 
 tit.r, ihe iiPplii-'it creature, \\iio has thought 
 it ..11 his lue ntedlt 1^, or unlawful, to exa- 
 mine ine pimcrui'j IT lads ! !i.!t I.e took 
 orr-i;.a!,y on trull, w:ll lie a- !'.:iie able as 
 tt,'-- i.thvi', to improve - imitude to any 
 oo<jvS j-i.i})(.lc: unlel i v.e (..ill it a !^o<>d 
 purj ole, lor that l^ir.etimcs haj pens, to 
 Lo:;...,i and ex.iit iiis prejudices lo that 
 
 he
 
 Let. 2. RETIREMENT and Sf unv. 413 
 
 he may live and die in one continued deli- 
 rium. The continued prejudices of a 
 thoughtful life arc a* hard to change as the 
 confirmed hab'rs of an indolent lite: and 
 as ibme mull tntle away age becaule they 
 have trifled away youth, others mult labor 
 on in a maze of error, becaule they have 
 wandered there too long to lind their way 
 out. 
 
 THERE is a prejudice in China in favor 
 of little feet, and therefore the feet of girls 
 are fwathed and bound up from the cradle, 
 fo that the women of than country arc un- 
 able to walk without tottering and llum- 
 
 w/ 
 
 bling all their lives. Among the favages 
 of America, there arc ibme who hold Hat 
 heads and long ears in great ciK'em, and 
 therefore prcis tiic one, and draw down 
 the others lo hard trom the:r intancv, that 
 they dellroy irrecoverably thj true propor- 
 tions of nature, and cominue all their lives 
 ridiculous to every light but their o\\n. Juit 
 fo, the firit of thele characters cannot make 
 any progrels, and the lecond \v:li not at- 
 tempt to make any, in an i:rrurLi..l fcarch 
 after real knowledge. 
 
 To fet about acquiring the habits of 
 meditation and ilu'.ly laie ;n lite, i- like
 
 4*4 ^f the true life of Let. 2* 
 
 getting into a go-cart with a grey beard, 
 and learning to walk when we have loll 
 the ufc of our legs. In general the foun- 
 dations of an happy old age muft be laid in 
 youth : and in particular, he who has not 
 cultivated his realbn young, will be utter* 
 ly unable to improve it old. " Mancnt 
 *' ingenia fcnibus, niodo permaneant ilu- 
 " dium ct induftria." 
 
 NOT only a love of ftudy, and a defire of 
 knowledge* muft have grown up with us, 
 but fuch an indurtrious application likc- 
 v.ife, as requires the whole vigor of the 
 ir.md to be exerted in the purfuit of truth, 
 through long trains of ideas, and all thofe 
 tlark recdles wherein man, not God, huS 
 hid it. 
 
 Tnr. !'ivr and this defire I have felt all 
 r;vy life, and I nm not quite a ftranger tc 
 this indultry and application. There hai 
 Lccn Ju;neihin^ always ready to v.'hilper in 
 rny e:tr, v.-hilll I ran the courfc of plealure 
 :i;',d of bulincf^, 
 
 " Solve fenelcentem mature faints equum." 
 
 BT;T my (ienius, unlike the demon ot 
 So( ;< ATK;, wh:ipered 1c ioltly, that very 
 
 ofirn
 
 l.ct.2. RF riRKMENTand STUDY. 415 
 
 often I heard him not, in the hurry uf 
 thole pafllons by which 1 was tranfported. 
 Some calmer hours there were : in them I 
 hearkened to him. Reflection had often 
 it's turn, and the love of ftudy and the de- 
 foe of knowledge have never quite aban- 
 doned me. I am not therefore entirely 
 unprepared for the life I will lead, and it 
 is not without rcaibn that I promife myfelf 
 more fatisf action in the latter pare of it, 
 than I ever knew in the former. 
 
 YOUR lordfhip may think this perhaps 
 a little too languine, for one who lias loft 
 fo much time already : you may put me 
 in mind, that human lite has no lecond 
 Ipring, no lecond lummer: you may afk 
 rne, what 1 mean by lowing in autumn, and 
 whether I hope to reap in winter ? My 
 anfwcr will bt, that I think very different- 
 ly from mod men, of tht time v/c have to 
 pafs, and the bufmefs we have to do in 
 this world. I think we have more of one, 
 and lefs of the other, than is commonly 
 fuppofed. Our 7/ant of time, and the 
 fhortnefs of human life, are fome of the 
 principal common-place complaints, which 
 we prefer againft the eftablifhed order of 
 things : they are the grumblings of the vul- 
 gar, and the pathetic lamentations of the
 
 416 Of the true Ufc or" Let. 2. 
 
 philoibpher ; but they are impertinent and 
 impious in both. The man of bufinefs de- 
 fy: lies the man of plealure, lor Squandering 
 his time away -, the man ot pleafure pities 
 or Lugh . at the man of bufnel>, for the 
 lame tiling: and yet both concur iupcrci- 
 lioufiy and abfurdly to find fault with the 
 Supreme Heing, lor having given them i'j 
 little time. The philosopher, \s ho mil- 
 peiuis it very often as. much as the others, 
 joins in the fame cry, and authorilcs this 
 imtj.cty. J HLOJ-MR ASTTS thought it ex- 
 iremcly hard to die at ninety, and to i- 
 out ot the world when lie had jull learned 
 lij-.v to live in it. His mailer ARISTOTLE 
 found fail!: with nature, f *r treating man 
 in t'u" reij'vct worlc than leveral other arri- 
 ;...:.: b.t;i very unuhiloi jphically ! and I 
 :;. c >:..-. i.e. \ ti;e better lor his q.i.rn-1 \vich 
 ;..'-. v .;.:- .;;:. (, ; i t!i s he.u'.. \N e lee, in lo 
 ;;.....; j.iit.. Ke.s, a jj;: j>.uj-oi uon ui ili!ii^;s, 
 .t^i.'orcliir-' to tiKir levcral rc-iati"-ns t' one 
 ....-jii'i, i.i.it }.!.'. \o: > h\ ihouicl k.M us 
 ' ; c'>i.'.iuv'. i ;-, j-ror 't,i;t):i prelervcd, ev, n 
 v::ere v. e c.fiv: i::; . ern t , Ki.ic.ui cf 
 : :-.. hiv.e tis.it it is not pie- 
 '.ve cicj i.ot c::kern i!, or 
 . ti':ai v.c lee tiie contrary. 
 c th< ; A ... , : , hiOLKinj'. j-:e 
 IL i> ;o pu iu.iu ru: liie l\ i.n!
 
 Let. 2. RETIREMENT and STUDY. 417 
 
 of the univcrle won LI have been rr.orc wife- 
 ly contrived, if creatures of our low rank 
 among intellectual natures hail been calleJ 
 to the councils of the Moll High: or that 
 tiic Creator ought to mend his work by 
 the advire of the creature. Th.it life which 
 feems to our felt- love Ib Ihorr, when we 
 compare it with the ideas we frame of eter- 
 nity, or even with the duration of fome 
 other beings, will appear fufncient, upon 
 a lefs partial view, to .ill the ends of our 
 creation, and of a juft proportion in the 
 fuccefiive courle of generations. The term 
 itfelf is long : we render it fhort ; and the 
 want we complain or flows from our pro- 
 fuiion, not from our poverty. \Ve are 
 all arrant fpcndthritts : iome of us difTipate 
 our eitai.es on the trifles, fome on the fu- 
 perfluities, and then we all complain that 
 we want the necefiaries of life. The much 
 greateft part never reclaim, but die bank- 
 rupts to GOD and man. Others reclaim 
 late, and tiiey are apt to imagine, when 
 they make up their accounts and fee how 
 their fund is diminifhed, that they have 
 not enough remaining to live upon, becaufc 
 they have not the whole. But they deceive 
 themielves : they were richer than they 
 thought, and they are not yet poor. If 
 they hufband well the remainder, it will be 
 D d found
 
 41 S Of the true Ufe of Let. 2, 
 
 found fufTkient for all the neccflarie?;, and 
 for fomc of the fppcrfluities, and trifles too 
 perhaps ot lire : but then thr former order 
 of expcnce muft t>e inverted , and the ne- 
 ceflTanes of life rnuft be provided, before* 
 th-y put thernielvcs to any coft for the 
 (rifles or fupcriluities. 
 
 LET us leave the ir.cn of pleafme and of 
 fruiinefs, who arc often candid enough to 
 o'.vr. i:...t li.-y throw aw.-y their time, and 
 then -! y ") cor.lt la that they cumphin of 
 the Suprt-i * Being for no other n-afjn tljan 
 this, th .' h; has not };rupurr''o;..\ '.: l> u: - 
 ty to tiKir > rava^arcr: let us Cv. .: icr 
 tl ii.liol.-.i ahvi the pi.:'oi"opher j \vho, far 
 from owning tr,-. he t.uovvs any ::T>C a\va\ - , 
 reproves cihcrs l^r doing it : that foieir.n 
 mortal, who ,:hftain- from the pjealurt^, and 
 declines the bi/fini ib of the wc^i'!, tli.it he 
 tnay dedicate hi \\holc rj;T.r tc> tiv 'e.irth 
 of truth, and the impu.vcmc :;t cf know- 
 ledge. When fuel) an ,,.ie complains of 
 the fhortmris cf hnii-an lii,- in f,iT-,er.il, or 
 of his remaining flu re in particular , n:if.t 
 no: a m*n, npre reasonable r!:o Ids k>- 
 |emn, cxpoltuLu: thus wi:h him r 
 
 14 Your complaint is indeed confiftrnt 
 with your practice j but you would nor, 
 
 "
 
 Let. 2. RETIREMENT and STUDY. 419 
 
 * 4 pofllbly, renew your c-.>; .^.aint it" you 
 * 4 reviewed your practice. Tr,u> reading 
 44 makes a Jchol.tr-, yet e 1 . ^ry fcholar ts 
 " not a philofopher, nor every philolbphcr 
 4< a wile man. It coft ;, .i! twenty yeifs 
 44 to devour ail the volume', on one Ikie of 
 4C y>ur library : \ou cutnr out a great cri- 
 41 tic in Latin and Grcrk., in the oriental 
 44 tongues, in hiilory and chrcnology ; but 
 41 you was not fatistied* you con felled thar 
 44 thtrie were the " literae nihil fa names ; " 
 '* and you wanted mure time to acquire 
 *' other knowledge. You have had thts 
 ct time : you have paiVed twenty years 
 44 more on the other ik'.e of your library, 
 44 among philosophers, rabbies, commen- 
 14 tators, Ichoolmen, and whole legions of 
 4C modern doctors. You are extremely 
 44 well verfed in all that has been written 
 * 4 concerning the nature of GOD, and of 
 
 O * 
 
 ** the foul of man , about matter and form, 
 "' body and Ipirit-, and Ipace, and eternal 
 44 eilcnces, and incorporeal fubitances ; 
 44 and the reft ot thoic profound fpecula- 
 44 tions. You are a matter of the conv 
 " tniverPies thar have arilen about nature 
 44 and u,r.ice, about predetlination and free- 
 41 will, and all the other ablirufe queflions 
 4C that have made lo much noife in the 
 '' fchools, and done lo much hurt in the 
 D d 2 " world.
 
 420 Of the true U fc of Let. 2, 
 
 14 world. You a;-: f,o'ng on, as i.ufc as 
 ** the infirmities \ou have comr.i^V'd 
 14 will pvnr.ir, in ti.> fan.r courfc of uu- 
 44 c!y ; but you bc-i:. to forefre thai you 
 *' Hull want time, ami , ou nuke grievous 
 ** complaints of the Jivniufs ot human 
 " life, fiive me leave now to ail: you, 
 ** how many rhouiantl ye.i.s Cio."; ir.u'.t pro- 
 M long your lifV, in or^cr to ixroncile \ou 
 ct to his wiiUom a:u! goodncfi? It is plain, 
 *' at lead highly probable, th.u a life as 
 44 long as that of the moll aged of the pa- 
 ' 4 triarchs would be too thort to an: WIT 
 " your purpofes ; fmce the riit.irchcs an.l 
 44 ciifputes ;n .--'tich you ar_ ^n*< t -^d, l^ve 
 *' been ;.l:ea(iy f' , .; much longer time th'* 
 * 4 objeCis of learned ci.(j;.ir : -s, and remain 
 " Itiil as imperfect ana undetermined as 
 44 :iu y were ;;t lirlt. Uut ler me al"k \^n 
 ** again, and deceive neither yuiicll nor 
 ** me i 1 lave you, in the co.:rle of thefj 
 14 forty year r , o;uo ( x^mined t;ic firlt prin- 
 * 4 (ijk?, ;ir., 1 ilie tundanit i.tai lads, on 
 44 ur.icii all ti'.rj'e quel'ions c).-j>' IK!, wirfj 
 c4 nn ali.'ohite iraliiirrencr oi judgment, 
 44 a;\! \M;!I a ( .1 rpul .-.; rxacinrls ? \vit!i 
 11 the )>n:e tl:.:: yu h..vc rrnplovd i!i 
 * l exami.'V.rg ti.c- vaii.us c'^n',; qvjcnrcs 
 ** urav. n l;om thci\ ; ; n i 'he h<-;rro.!M< 
 '* tp k :voii.; hUout them ? J lave
 
 Let. 2. RETIREMENT and STUD v. 421 
 
 14 taken them for ^ranu-cl, in the whole 
 u courle or your itudics ? Or, it you have 
 44 looked now and then on the ft.uecf the 
 44 pro<>h> brought to maintain them, have 
 44 you not done it as a mathematician 
 14 looks over a demonftration formerly 
 " made, to rcfrefh his memory, not to U 
 44 tisfy any doubr ? if you have thus ex- 
 ** amined, it may appear marvellous to 
 44 lome, that you have fpent ;b mujh time 
 * 4 in many parts of thole itudics, which. 
 " have reduced you to this hectic condi- 
 * c tion, of fo much heat and weaknth. 13uc 
 14 if you have not thus examined, it muft 
 *' be evident to all, nay to yourfelr" on the 
 44 leaft cool rerie^tion* that you are llili, 
 t4 notwithftanding ;ill your learning, in a 
 " ftate of ignorance. For knowledge can 
 44 alone produce knowledge: and without 
 44 luch an examination ot axioms and fads, 
 44 you can luve none about inferences." 
 
 IN this manner one might ex populate 
 very rcalbnably with many a great Ichoiar, 
 niany a profound philofopher, many a do^- 
 matical caluilt. And it icrrves to let tlie 
 complaiivts about want of time, anJ the 
 fhortnels of human life, in a very lidicu- 
 lous but a irue light. All men are tauht 
 their opinions, a: leait on the molt impori- 
 t) J *X
 
 422 Of the true Ufc of Let. 2. 
 
 ant fubje<fts, by rote , and arc bred to de- 
 fend them with oblhnacy. They may be 
 taught true opinion^ -, but whether true or 
 falle, the fanv zeal for them, and the lame 
 attachment to them is every where in- 
 fpired alike. The Tartar believes as hear- 
 tily that the foul of FOE inhabits in his 
 DAIRO, as the Chriltian believes the hy- 
 poilatic union, or any article in the Atha- 
 nafian creed. Now this may aniwer the 
 ends of fociety in fome rclpccts > and df> 
 well enough for die vulgar of all ranks : 
 but it is noc enough for the man who cul- 
 tivates his reaibn who is able to think, and 
 who ought to think, for himlclf. To fuch 
 a man, every opinion th.it he has not him- 
 lclr either framed, or examined llrictly, and 
 then adopted, will pais for nothing more 
 than what it really is, the opinion of other 
 men , which may be true or fa He for ought 
 he knows. And this is a itate of uncer- 
 tainty, in which no inch man can remain, 
 with any peace of mind, concerning thole 
 things that are of greatelt importance to us 
 here, and may be io hereafter. He will 
 make them therefore the objects of his tirit 
 and {Tcatell attention. It he h.;s loll time\ 
 he will lolc no more; and when hr ha* 
 acquired all the knowledge he is capable of 
 acquiring on thelc fubjccti^ he will be the 
 
 Ids
 
 Let. 4. RETIREMENT and STUDY. 423 
 
 ids concerned whether hr has time to ac- 
 quire any farther. Should he have pafled : 
 his life in the pleafurcs or bufmefs of the 
 Svorid ; whenever he fcts about this work, 
 he will loon have the advantage over the 
 learned philolopher. For he will foon have 
 iecured what is necellary to his happincfsj 
 and may fit down in the peaceful enjoy- 
 ment of that knowledge: or proceed with 
 greater advantage and fatisf.idion to the- 
 acquilition of new knowledge -, whilft the" 
 other continues his fearch afrer things that' 
 are in their nature, to fay the belt of 
 them, hypoihetical, precarious, and 1'uper- 
 fiuous. 
 
 BUT this is not the only rule, by obferv* 
 ing of which we may ivacem our timv, and 
 have the advantage over thofe who ima- 
 
 w? 
 
 gine they have ib much in point of know- 
 ledge over your lordfhip or me, for in- 
 fhmce, and who deipile our ignorance. 
 The rule I mean is this , to be on our 
 guard againft the common arts of delu- 
 lion, fpoken of already \ which, every one 
 is ready to conlels, have been employed ID 
 rmliead thofe who differ from him. Let 
 us be diffident ofourfelves, but let us be 
 diffident of others too; our own 
 may lead Ua to reai'on wrong j but 
 D d 4 pdf
 
 <24. Of the true Uic of Let. 2, 
 
 pafTions and intereft of others may have 
 the fame effect. It is in every man's power, 
 who fcrs about it in good carnclt, to pre- 
 vent the fir ft : and when he has done lo, 
 he will have a conic ions certainty of it. 
 To prevjn: tl:c lad, there is one, and but 
 one lure method i and tha: is, to remount, 
 in the lurvey of our opinions, to the Hrit 
 and even remotell principles en which tluy 
 are tounded. No refpecb, no habit, r.o 
 ieeming certainty whatever, mult divert us 
 from iki* : any affectation of diverting us 
 f:om it ought to increafe our fufpicion : 
 and the more important our examination 
 is, the more important this method of con- 
 ducting it becomes. Lei us not be frighted 
 from it, either by the fujij^ofed difficulty or 
 length of fucii an enquiry -, for, on th.c 
 contrary, this is the rafielt and the Hiort- 
 cfl, ;:> well as the only hue way of arriv- 
 ing at real knowledge i and of bein<j able 
 r.o place the opinions \\e examir.e in the dii- 
 f'ercnt cl-ifles or true, probable, c>r f.d'.f, 
 jc\(ic!;r,^ to the truth, payability, or 
 falfliood (,f :!.e principles from wheju'e t!i'--y 
 are deduced. If we lind tlule p;inci]'-!e 
 f..lfe, a;:d i''at will he the cale in in.iny ;n- 
 llances, v.e lloj) our cntjuinri (>n tl.e'c 
 deads at (nice; and lave an nr,:ncr.!< 
 of tui c il-.at we thould otherwise m;lct. !
 
 Let. 2. RET IREMENT and STUDY. 425 
 
 The Muffulman who enters on the exami- 
 nation of all the difputes that have .irifen 
 between the followers of OMAR and ALI 
 and other doctors ot his law, mutt acquire a 
 tho r ough knowledge of the whole Maho- 
 metan 1) item , and will have as good a right 
 to complain of want of time, and the fhort- 
 nels ot human life, as any pagan or Chri- 
 Itian divine or philolbphcr : but without 
 all this time or learning, he might have 
 difcovered that MAHOMET was an im- 
 pottor, and that the Koran is an heap of 
 ablurdities. 
 
 Iv fhorr, my lord, he who retires from 
 the world, with a relblution of employing 
 his leilure, in the firft place to re-examine 
 and fettle his opinions, is inexcufable if he 
 does not begin with thole that are molt im- 
 portant to him, and if he does not deal 
 honeftly by himfeU. To deal honeltly by 
 hirr.lelf, he muft oblerve the rule 1 have 
 infilled upon, and not luffer the delufions 
 of the world to follow him into his retreat. 
 Every man's realon is every man's oracle: 
 this oracle is bell coni'ulted in the filcnce 
 of retirement ; and when we nave lo con- 
 lulted, whatever the decifion be, whether 
 in favor of our prejudices or aguinft them, 
 we mult rclt fatisried : fmce nothing can be 
 
 more
 
 426 Of the true Ufe of Let. 2, 
 
 more certain than this, that he who follows 
 that guide in the fearch or truth, as that 
 was given him to lead him to it, will have 
 a much better pica to make, whenever or 
 wherever he may be called to account, than 
 he, who has rcfigned himfclf, either deli- 
 berately or inadvertently, to any authority 
 upon earth. 
 
 WHEN we have done this, concerning 
 GOD, ourfclves, and other men j concern- 
 ing the relations in which we Hand to him 
 and to them i the duties that refult from 
 thefe relations - t and the polhive will of the 
 Supreme Being, whether revealed to us in 
 a fupernaiural, or dilcovercd by the right 
 ufc of our reaion in a natural way-- -we 
 have done the great bufmefs of our lives. 
 Our lives are fo fufHcient ior this that they 
 afibrd us time for more, even when we 
 begin late : especially if we proceed in eve- 
 ry other tnquiiy by the f:imc* rule. To 
 difcovLT crroi in a.xior.is, or : n h'rlt prin- 
 ciples grounded on tacts, is !.,vv; LUC break- 
 ing of a clurm. The inchantcd catlk-, the 
 ftcep rock, the burning lake difappear: 
 and the paths that lead to truth, which 
 we imagined to be fo long, fo embarralfcd, 
 and fo difficult, fhcw as they are, fhorr, 
 open, and cafy. \N 'hen we have fccured 
 
 the
 
 Let. 2. Rn TIREMFNT and STUDY. 427 
 
 the ncceluries, there may be time to amulc 
 ourlelvcs with the fupcrfluities, and even 
 with the tndes, of lite. " Dulcc eft dcfi- 
 " pcre," laid HORACE: u Vive la baga- 
 " telle ! " fays SWIFT. I oppofc neither ; 
 not the Kpicurcan, much lels the Chnitiaa 
 philofopher : but I infiit that a principal 
 part ot thefe amulements be the am u fo- 
 ments of iUidy and reflection, of reading 
 and convcrfation. You know what con- 
 verfation I mean , for we lofe the true ad- 
 vantage of our nature and constitution, if 
 we iurlcr the mind to come, as it were, to 
 :\ (land. When the body, inftead of ac- 
 quiring new vigor, and tailing new plea- 
 Hires, begins to decline, and is fated with 
 pleafures, or grown incapable of taking 
 them, the mind may continue flill to im- 
 prove and indulge itlelf in new enjoyments. 
 Every advance in knowledge opens a new 
 icene of delight -, and the joy that we feel 
 in the actual poflefiion of one, will be 
 heightened by that which we expect to find 
 in another : fo that, before we can exhauit 
 this fund of fucceflive pleafures, death will 
 come to end our pleaiures and our paans 
 at once. " In his itudiis iaboribulque vi- 
 4 ' venti, non intelligitur quando obrepit 
 <c feneitus ; ita fenfim line fenfu aetas fc- 
 
 " nelcit,
 
 428 Of the true Uic of Let. 3. 
 
 " ncfcir, nee fubito frangitur, led diutur- 
 " nitate cxtinguitur." 
 
 THIS, my lord, is the wifeft, and the 
 molt agreeable manner in which a man of 
 fcnfc ca.i wind up ihe thread of life. Hap- 
 py is he whole iituarion and circumftances 
 ^ive him the opportunity and means ot 
 doing it ! Tho he JlioulJ not have made 
 any ,reat advances 1:1 knowledge, and 
 mould irt about it hue, yet the talk will 
 not be lound dtfriculc, unlcfs he has gone 
 too tar out or his way -, and unleis he 
 coniinucs too long to halt, between the 
 difiipations of the world, and the leilure of 
 a retired hie : 
 
 Vivendi recte qui j-roro?at horam, 
 Kuiticus ex]xrctat dum dcliuat amm-, 
 
 You know the reft. I :\:n fer.fiMr, more 
 (enlible r'.'in any enemy I h.i\\-, oi ir.y na- 
 tur..l infirmities, and acquired diladvan- 
 ta^cs : but 1 h.^ve b<^;un, and 1 will perlilt : 
 for he wi*o jo^s fo:'v.\ird on a battered 
 horle, in the rn-ht way, may get to the end 
 of '.is journey-, viikli lie cannot do, who 
 gallops the ikciell courier ol New-Market, 
 OUL ot it. 
 
 ADIEU,
 
 JLet.2. RETIREMENT and STUDY. 429 
 
 ADIEU, my clear lord. Tho I have much 
 more to lay en this lubjtcft, yet 1 perceive, 
 and I doub: you have long perceived, that 
 I have laid too much, at lealt for a letter, 
 already. The rclt (hall be relerved for 
 convei lation whenever we meet : and then 
 I hope to confirm, under your lord/hip's 
 eye, my fpeculations by my practice. In 
 the mean time let me refer you to our 
 friend POPE. He lays I made a philofopher 
 of him : I am jure he has contributed very 
 much, and I thank him for it, to the mak- 
 ing an hermit of me.
 
 RE FLE CT I ONS 
 
 UPON 
 
 EXILE.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 f"T^HAT the public may not be im- 
 pofcd upon by any lame and un- 
 equal tranflation, of the following trca- 
 tiic, from the French, in which lan- 
 guage part of it has been lately printed, 
 and retailed in a monthly Mercury ; it 
 is judged proper to add it here, at the 
 end of this vvlumc, from the author's 
 original manuscript, as he himfelf had 
 fin ifticd it for the prd's.
 
 RE FLE CT IONS 
 
 UPON 
 
 EXILE*. 
 
 M DCC XVI. 
 
 DISSIPATION of mind, and length 
 of time, arc the remedies to which 
 the greateft part of mankind truft in their 
 afflictions. But the firft of thefe works a 
 temporary, the fecond a flow, effect: and 
 both are unworthy of a wile man. Are 
 we to fly from ourfelves that we may fly 
 from our misfortunes, and fondly to ima- 
 gine that the difeafe is cured becaule we 
 find means to get fome moments of relpite 
 from pain ? Or fhall we expect from time, 
 the phyfician of brutes, a lingering and 
 
 * Several paflages of this little trcatife are taken 
 from SENECA: and the whole is writ with fome 
 allufion to his ftyle and manner, "quanquam non 
 " omnino temerc fit, quod de fententiis illius que- 
 " ritur Fabius," &c. ERAS. De fen. jud. 
 
 E e uncertain
 
 434 REFLECTIONS upon EXILF. 
 uncertain deliverance ? Shall we wait to be 
 'happy' till we can forget that we arc mife- 
 rabfe, and owe to the weaknefs of our fa- 
 culties a tranquillity which ought to bo the 
 effect of their Itrength ? Far othcrwilc. 
 Let us fet all our pail and our prcll-nt af- 
 fiicTions at once before our eyes *. Let us 
 reiblve to overcome ihem, inflead of fiy- 
 iiw from them, -.or wtaring out the fuile 
 of them by long and ignominious patience. 
 Inftead of palliating remedies, let us ule 
 the incifion-knire and the caultic, fean.li 
 the wojnd to the bottom, and work a;i 
 immediate and radical cure. 
 
 THE recalling of former misfortunes 
 fcrvcs to fortify the mind againil later. He 
 mull blufli to fink under the anguifh of one 
 woi;nd, who furveys a body learned over 
 with the fears of many, and who has come 
 victorious out of all the conflicts wherein 
 he received them. Let lighs, and tears, 
 and fainting under the lightcil llrokrs ot 
 adverfc fortune, be the portion of ihuk: 
 unhappy peoj:lc whole tender minds a ].>n^ 
 courie of felicity has enervated: while li'in, 
 as have pallet! through years ot calamity, 
 
 * OIN. DC Con. ad He!. 
 
 bra;
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 435 
 
 bear up, with a noble ;ind immoveablc 
 conilancy, againft the hcaviefl. Uninter- 
 rupted nutci) Jus this good effect^, ^s ic 
 continually torment?, ic finally hardens. 
 
 Si-en is the language of philofophy : and 
 happy is the man who acquires the right: 
 ot holding it. But this right is not to be 
 acquired by pathetic difcourfe. Our con- 
 duct can alone give it us : and therefore, 
 inilead of preiuming on our ftrcngtli, the 
 lurelt method is to confcfs our weaknefs, 
 and, without lofs of time, to apply our- 
 frlvcs to the ftudy of wifdom. This was 
 the advice which the oracle gave to ZENO *, 
 and there is no other way of fecuring our 
 tranquillity amidtt all the accidents to which 
 human life is expoied. Philofophy has, I 
 know, her THRASOS, as well as War : and 
 among her Ions many there have been, 
 who, while they aimed at being more than 
 men, became fomething lei's. The means 
 of preventing this danger are eafy and fure. 
 It is a good rule, to examine well before 
 we addicl ourfelves to any feet : but I think 
 ic is a better rule, to addict ourklves to 
 none. Let us hear them all, with a per- 
 fect indifferency on which fide the truth 
 
 * DlOG. L A L R T . 
 
 E e 2 lies :
 
 436 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 lies: and, when we come to determine, let 
 nothing appear fo venerable to us as our 
 own underftandlngs. I^et us gratefully ac- 
 cept the help or" every one who has endca- 
 vouicd to correct the vices, and llrengthen 
 the minds of men ; but let us chufc for 
 ourfelves, and yield univerlal alien t to 
 none. Thus, that I may inrhncc the feet 
 already mentioned, when \ve have laid afuie 
 the wonderful and furpriling fentenccs, and 
 all the parr.doxes of the Portiquc, we mall 
 find in that fchool Inch doctrines as our un- 
 prejudiced reafon fubmits to with pleasure, 
 as nature dictates, and as experience con- 
 firms. Without this precaution, we r\m 
 the rifque of becoming imaginary kings, 
 and real Haves. With it, we may learn to 
 afTert our native freedom, and live inde- 
 pendent on fortune. 
 
 IK order to which great end, it is ne- 
 ceflary that we (land Watchful, as ceminels 
 to difcovcr the lecret wiles and open att.ick* 
 of this capricious goddrfs, before they 
 reach us*. Where fhe falls upon us un- 
 expected, it is hard to refift ; but thole 
 who w.u't for her, will repel her with enfc. 
 The luddcn niv.ilion of an enemy ovcrr- 
 
 S k N. PC coc ad I . I- 
 
 t!i row
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 437 
 
 throws fuch as arc not on their guard ; but 
 they who fore ice the war, and prepare 
 thcmfclves for it before it breaks out, ftand, 
 without difficulty, the iirft an.i ihe fiercest 
 onfet. I learned this imporun: lefTon long 
 ago, and never truited ta fortune even 
 while llic feemed to be at peace with 
 inc. The riches, the honors, the repu- 
 tation , and a;l the advantages which 
 her treacherous indulgence poured upon 
 me, 1 placed Ib, that (he might fnatch 
 them away without giving me any dilturb- 
 ance. I kept a great interval between me 
 and tiu-iu. She took them, but fhe could 
 not tear them from me. No man fufters 
 by bad fortune, bwt he who has been de- 
 ceived by good. If we grow fond of her 
 gifts, fancy that they belong to us, and are 
 perpetually to remain with us, if we lean 
 upon them, and expect to be confidered 
 for them ; we (hall link into all the bitter- 
 ivfs of grief, as foon as theie falfe and 
 tr.;niitory benefits pals away , as foon as 
 our vain and childiili minds, unfraught 
 with iblid pleafures, become deftitute even 
 of thole which arc imaginary. But, if we 
 do not fuller ou delves to be tranfported by 
 profperity, neither mall we be reduced by 
 advcrlity. Our fouls will be of proof 
 aguinlt the dangers of both thele itates : 
 K e 3 and
 
 4;>3 REFLECTIONS upon EXILF. 
 
 and , having explored our Itrcn^th , we 
 (hall be fure of it-, for in the mid it of fe- 
 licity, wr fhall have tried how we can bear 
 misfortune. 
 
 IT is much harder to examine and judrre, 
 th;m to take up opini ins <>n trult ; and 
 therefore tiie tar greatcit part ot the \\orld 
 borrow from othtr, thofe which they en- 
 tertain cencerni n ir ail the affairs of lite ar.d 
 
 . 
 
 death *. Hence it proceeds that men are 
 fo unanimoufly eager in the purluit of 
 tilings, which far from having any inhe- 
 rent real pood, are varn'fhed over with a 
 fpecious ami deceitful glols, and contain 
 nothing anfwerable to their appearances -f. 
 Hence it proceeds, on the other hand, that, 
 in thole things which are c. \lled cviK, there 
 is nothing lo hard ami terrible as the gene- 
 ral cry ot t!u- woil-i threatens. The word 
 exile tomes indeed harfli to the ear, and 
 ftrikes us like a melancholy and execrable 
 found, through a certain perfuafion which 
 rr.cn have habitually concurred in. Thus 
 the multiuuii' has ordained. Hut the greatcit 
 
 rh:m i:r.tif;i.' r :uc n^.-.vult crcdrrc, qur.m jtuli- 
 frr, niin^uarr <ic vita judicatur, Knifvr crcditur. 
 
 f Jit
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 439' 
 
 part of their ordinances are abrogated by 
 the wile. 
 
 REJECTING therefore the judgment of 
 thofe who determine according to popular, 
 opinions, or the firfl appearances of things, 
 let us examine what exile really is*. It is, 
 then, a change of place ; and, left you 
 fhould fay that I diminifh the object, and 
 conceal ihe mod {"hocking parts of it, I 
 add, th;ir this change of place is frequent- 
 ly accompanied by iome or all of the fol- 
 lowing inconveniences : l<y the lofs of the 
 eflate which we enjoyed, and the rank 
 which we held , by the Icis of that confi- 
 cleration and power which we were in pof- 
 feffion of; by a feparation from our family 
 and our friends ; by the contempt which 
 we m;iy fall into ; by the ignominy with 
 which thofe who have driven us abroad, 
 wril endeavour to lully the innocence of 
 our rhanicters, and to juilify the injustice 
 ot their own conduct. 
 
 ALL thefe mail be fpoke to hereafter. 
 In tiie mean while, let us confidrr what 
 evil there is, in change of place, abltract- 
 ecily and by itlelt. 
 
 * SK N. De con. aJ Hcl. 
 
 K e 4 To
 
 44 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 To live deprived of one's country is in- 
 tolerable *. Is it lo ? flow comes it then 
 to pafs that fuch numbers of men live out 
 of thnr countries by choice ? Gblcrve how 
 the itreeis of London and of Pans arc 
 crowded. Call over thofe millio/s by name, 
 and afk them one by one, of what country 
 they are : how many will you find, who, 
 from different parts of the earth, come to 
 inhabit thele great cities, which afford the 
 largcft opportunities, and the lar c -dt en- 
 couragement, to virtue and to vice r Some 
 are drawn by ambition, and fome arc lent 
 by duty ; many reiort thither to improve 
 their minds, and many to improve their 
 fortunes > others bring their beauty, and 
 others their eloquence, to market. Re- 
 move from hence, and go to the utmofl 
 extremities of the Eaft or the Weft : vifit 
 the barbarous nations of Afiica, or the in- 
 hofpitable regions of the North : you will 
 find no climate fo bad, no country fo la- 
 vage, as not to have fome people who 
 come from abioad, and inhabit there by 
 choice. 
 
 AMONG numberlcfs extravagancies which 
 have paflcd through the minds ol men, we 
 
 SIN. DC cm. ad ll'A. 
 
 ITMV
 
 REFLECTIONS upon E.\nt. 44.1 
 
 may juftly reckon for one that notion of a 
 fecrct aHeclion, independent of our reaion, 
 and fuperior to our reafbn, which we are 
 luppolcd to have for our country ; as if 
 there were fome phyQcal virtue in every 
 fpot of ground, which neceifarily produced 
 this effcdc in every one born upon it. 
 
 " Amor patriae ratione valemior ooini *." 
 
 As if the heimvei was an universal diftem- 
 per, infeparable from the conltitution of 
 an human body, and not peculiar to the 
 Swils, who feem to have been made for 
 their mountains , as their mountains feem 
 to have been made for them -}-. This no- 
 tion may have contributed to the iecurity 
 and grandeur of ftates. It has therefore 
 been not unartfully cultivated, and the pre- 
 judice of education has been with care put 
 on it's fide. Men have come in this cafe, 
 as in many, from believing that it ought 
 to be fo, to perfuade otheis, and even to 
 believe themfelves that it is io. PROCOPIUS 
 relates that ABGARUS came to Rome, and 
 gained the elteem and fricndihip of AU- 
 GUSTUS to fuch a degree, that this emperor 
 C ould not rciolvc to let him return home : 
 
 * Ov. DcPonto, El. iv. 
 f C'arU. lit NT i. Let. 
 
 that
 
 442 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 that ABCARUS brought feveral beads, which 
 he had taken one day in hunting, alive to 
 
 4 O ' 
 
 Ai'CL'STt's: that he placed in different 
 parts of the Circus fomc of the earth which 
 belonpcrl to the places where each of thclc 
 animals had been caught ; that as loon as 
 this was done, and they were turned loofe 
 every one of them ran to that corner wlirrc 
 his earth lay : that Arc.rsTrs, admiring 
 their lentiment of love for their country 
 which nature has graved in the hearts of 
 bealh, and ftruck by the evidence of the 
 truth, gnnred the rtqueft which ABGARTS 
 immediately p retted upon him, and allow- 
 ed, tho with regret, the tctrarch to return 
 to KdcfTh. But this tale dclervcs julr. as 
 much credit as that which follows in the 
 lame place, of the letter of ARGARUR to 
 Jh5*s CrmsT, of our Saviour's anfwer, 
 and of the cure of A no. uius. There is 
 nothing, lurch', more groundless than the 
 notion here r.;lvana\i, nothing more ab- 
 furd. \\> love tl.c countr,- in which we 
 are born, becaule we receive particular be- 
 nefits from it, an<' becjule \\c h.ivc par:i- 
 cular obligation:; to it: whicli ties we may 
 have to another cour.:ry, as well as to due 
 we are born in; to -HIT country bv election, 
 ns well .is to our country by birth. In all 
 Ltiicr rclp^.c: , ,i %ule nun looks on l\.:r.- 
 
 iclf
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 443 
 
 IHt as a citizen of the world : and, when 
 you aik him where his country lies, points, 
 like ANAXAOORAS, with his finger to the 
 heavens. 
 
 THERE arc other perfons, again, who 
 have imagined that as the whole univcrlc 
 
 O 
 
 (utters a continual rotation, and nature 
 feems to delight in it, or to preferve her- 
 lelf by it, lb there is in the minds of men, 
 a natural reltlelihefs, which inclines thera 
 to change ot place, and to the fhifting their 
 habitations *. This opinion has at lealt 
 an appearance of truth, which the other 
 wants i and is countenanced, as the other 
 is contradicted, by experience. But, what- 
 ever the rcafons be, which mud have varied 
 infinitely in an infinite number of cafes, 
 and an irmnenfe fpace of time-, true it is 
 in fad, that the families and r.ations of the 
 world have bren in a continual fluctuation, 
 roaming abr.ut or, the face of the globe, 
 driving and driven out by turns. What 
 a number of colonies has Afia lent into 
 Kurope ! The Phoenicians planted the 
 coalts of the Mediterranean fea, and pufh- 
 ed their leitiements even into the ocean. 
 The Etrurians were of Afiatic extraction ; 
 
 * SEN. De con. ad I lei. 
 
 and, 
 
 2
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILI. 
 
 and, to mention no more, the Romans, 
 thole lords of the world, acknowledged a 
 Trtjan exile lor the founder of their em- 
 pjre. How many migrations have there 
 been, in r-turn to thele, tro;n Europe into 
 Alia? They would be endlels to enumerate; 
 for, bcfides the Aeolic, the Ionic, and others 
 of almcft equal t..me, the Greeks, during 
 icveral ages, made continual cx[>ediiions, 
 ajnl built cilics in fcver.il parts of Afu. 
 The Gauls penetrated thither too, and 
 dtablifhed a kingdom. The European 
 Scythians over-ran thefe valt provinces, 
 and can itd their arms to the confines of 
 Eyypt. ALEXANDER lubducd all from 
 the Hcllcfpont to India, and built towns, 
 and eftabliihed colonies, to fecurc his con- 
 qucils, and to eternifc his name. From 
 boili thcle parts of the world Africa has 
 received inhabitants and mailers; and what 
 fhc has received (he has given. The Ty- 
 nans built the city, and loundcd the re- 
 public, or Carthage-, the Greek h.is been 
 the language of Egypt. In the remote ll 
 an:iquny we hear ot BKI.IS in Chaldaca, 
 and ot SESOSTRIS planting; his ta\\r,y colo- 
 nies in Cokhos : aiu: .^pain i;as been, in 
 thclc later n-'e.r, under rl..; dc;n;nu:n ot the 
 Moor 1 . ir V.T tun) to Kuiiif hill(ir\, \\c 
 find our f. :hcrs, the Goth , led !\ \\OIMN
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 445 
 
 and by THOR, their heroes firit and their 
 divinities afterwards, from the Aliatic Tar- 
 tary into Europe : and who can afifure us 
 that this \ras their tirtt migration ? They 
 came into Afia perhaps by the eaft, from 
 that continent to which their fons have 
 lately failed from Europe by the weft : and 
 thus in the procefs of three or four thou- 
 fand years> the fame race of men have pulh- 
 cd their conquefts and their habitations 
 round the globe ; at lead this may be fup- 
 poled, as reafonably as it is fuppofed, I 
 think by GROTIUS, that America was peo- 
 pled from Scandinavia. The world is a 
 great wildernefs, wherein mankind have 
 wandered and joftled one another about 
 from the creation. Some have removed 
 by neccfTity, and others by choice. One, 
 nation has been fond of icizing what ano- 
 ther was tired of poffcfling : and it will be 
 difficult to point out the country which is 
 to this day in the hands of it's firft inhabit- 
 ants. 
 
 THUS fate has ordained that nothing 
 
 *j 
 
 fhall remain Ions; in the lame ftatc : and 
 
 O 
 
 what are all theie transportations of peo- 
 ple, but fo many public exiles ? VARRO, 
 the molt learned of the Romans, thought, 
 
 iince
 
 4-0 REFLECTIONS upon EXILH. 
 
 fmce Nature* is the lame wherever we go, 
 that this fmgle circumftance was fufHcieni 
 to remove all objeflions to change of place, 
 taken by itfelf, and Itripped ot the other 
 inconveniences which attend exile. M. 
 BRUTUS thought it enough that thole, whe 
 go into ban LI amen t, cannot be hindered 
 Iroin carrying their Virtue along with them. 
 Now, ir any one judge that each of thele 
 comforts is in itielt inefficient, he mult 
 however confefs that both of them joined 
 together, are able to remove the terrors of 
 exile. For what trifles mud all we leave 
 behind us be efteemed, in companion of 
 the two mod precious things which men 
 can enjoy, and which, we are fuiv, will 
 follow us wherever wr turn our ileps the 
 fame Nature, and c.ur proper Vmue-f-? 
 Believe me, the providence o! (jo:> h.-.s ell.i- 
 blifhcd luch .in order in tiie \vorl.l, iliat of 
 all wh.c.'i belongs to us t';c K.:u valuable 
 parts can aK)iie r.;ii ur..i-.T ;;;e v.iil of o;l'.ers. 
 \Vi.atevcr i.-. bell is ;..:e': ; l;vf> out ot tin- 
 reach of hui'Kin \ J\vr;- i c.i:i r.'ji f .l:er be uivt'.'i 
 nor taken av/ay. h j. :i is ;..;j ^rcut and 
 beautiful work o: nar .re, tiic world. Such 
 is the ir.ind of iv.a , \vl.lcii contemplates 
 
 ' Si.:;. DC con. ad Hcl. -| ib. 
 
 and
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 447 
 
 and admires the world whereof it makes 
 the noblcft part. Thcfe are infcparably 
 ours, and as long as we remain in one we 
 fhall enjoy the other. Let us march there- 
 fore intrepidly wherever we are led by the 
 courie of human accidents. Wherever 
 they lead us, on what coaft foever we are 
 thrown by them, we fhall not find our- 
 felves abfolutely Grangers. We fhall meet 
 with men an j women, creatures of the 
 lame figure, endowed with the lame facul- 
 ties, and born under the lame laws of na- 
 ture. \Ve mall lee the lame virtues and 
 vices, flowing from the lame general prin- 
 ciples, but varied in a thoufand different 
 and contrary modes, according to that in- 
 finite variety of laws and cuftoms which is 
 cftablifhed for the fame univerfal end, the 
 prefervation of fociety. We ihall feel the 
 fame revolution of leafons, and the fame 
 fun and moon * will guide the courie of 
 our year. The fame azure vaulc, be- 
 fpangled with ftars, will be every where 
 
 * PLUT. Of banlmment. He compares thofc 
 who cannot live out of their own country, to the 
 nniple people who fancied that the moon of Athens 
 was a finer moon than that of Corinth. 
 
 lulientem coelo quac dacitis annum. 
 
 V i R G. Geon 
 
 fprcad
 
 REFLECTIONS upon Exrtr. 
 
 fpre-ad over our heads. There is no part 
 of the world from whence we may not ad- 
 mire thofe planets which roll, like ours, in 
 different orbits round the fame central fun -, 
 from whence we may not difcover an ob- 
 jet frill more ftupendous, that army of 
 fixed liars hung up in the immenfe fpacc 
 of the univerfc, innumerable funs whofc 
 beams enlighten and chcnih the unknown 
 worlds which roll around them : and whilft 
 I am ravifhed by fuch contemplations as 
 chefe, whilft my foul is thus raifed up to 
 heaven, it imports me little what ground 
 I tread upon. 
 
 4 
 
 BRUTUS*, m the book which he writ 
 on virtue, related that he had feen MAR- 
 CELLUS in exile at Mitylene, living in all 
 the happinefs which human nature is ca- 
 pable of, and cultivating, with as much 
 afliduity as ever, all kinds of laudable 
 knowledge. He added that this fpectaclc 
 made him think that it was rather he who 
 went into banifhmcnt, fincc he was to re- 
 turn without the other, than the other who 
 remained in it. O MARCELLUS, far more 
 happy when BRUTUS approved thy exile, 
 than when the ccmirnoav.caUh approved 
 
 S s N. DC con. ad Hcl. 
 
 thy
 
 REFLE cf ioxs upon EXILE. 449 
 
 thy confullhip ! J low great a man mull 
 thou have been to extort admiration from 
 him who appeared an object of admiration 
 even to his own CATO ! The lame B . urus 
 reported further, that CAT.SAR. ove r m >i 
 Mkylene, becaule he could not (land tie 
 light of MAKC:.LLUS reduced to a ft ate fo 
 unworthy of him. Mis reiteration was at 
 length obtained by the public interccfTion 
 of the whole fenate, who were dejected 
 with grief to fucli a decree, that they 
 feemcd all upon this occafion to have the 
 fame fencimcnts with BRUTUS, and to be 
 luppliants for the::iie!ve>, rather than for 
 MARCKLLUS *. This was to return with 
 honor-, but fur.-ly he. remained abroad with 
 greater, when BRUTUS couid not refolve tp 
 leave him, nor CA-SAK. to fee him-, tor 
 both of them bo:v witnefs of h.is merit. 
 B.iUT'JS grieved, an.i CA^SA:^ bluflied to 
 co to Rome wiihjut him. 
 
 CK METELLUS NUMDICUS had under- 
 c-one the lame fate io:r.e years betore, while 
 the people, who a:e aiv/ays the iurclt in- 
 
 * MA?. CELL vt was a(T:!{?inatcd r.t Athens, in his 
 
 rciiirn hoin^. 'oyCHiLO, MI ill fncuJ, and teliosv- 
 
 1'jlJ.icr c>t" I::-,. The i::'V.;vc or CHILD ij not cx- 
 
 pl.iiiiCil in !i,l:ory. L'A.->.\R w,,-, iulpf>'U-'.i, but Ysi 
 
 ce:n- to b- j-jilir.ed by ti.c .- r ini, .-. cl"h?.u rv..
 
 450 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE, 
 
 itrumenrs of their own fervitude, were lay- 
 ing under the conduct of MARJUS, the 
 foundations of that tyranny which was 
 perfected by CAESAR. METELLUS alone, 
 in the mid ft of an intimidated fenate, and 
 outrageous multitude, rcfulcd to fwcar to 
 the pernicious laws of the tribune SATUR- 
 NINTS. His conftancy became his crime, 
 and exile his punifhment. A wild and 
 lawlefs faction prevailing againll him, the 
 beft men of the city armed in his defence, 
 and were ready to lay down their lives that 
 they might preferve lo much virtue to their 
 country. But he, having failed to perfuade, 
 thought it not lawful to conftram. He 
 judged in the phrenly of the Roman com- 
 monwealth, as PLATO judged in the do- 
 tage of the Athenian. METELLL-S knew, 
 that if his fellow-citizens amended, he 
 Ihould be recalled-, and if they did not 
 amend, lie thought he could be no where 
 woric than at Rome. He went volunta- 
 rily into exile, and wherever he palled he 
 carried the lure iVmpt'jtn of a fickly ilate, 
 and the ceriain prog'iollic of an expiring 
 common .vcalth. \Vh.it temper he conti- 
 nue vi in abroad will bell appear by a frag- 
 ment of ore of hij le'iers which GELLIUS *, 
 
 xv. cap. :. 
 
 in
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 4:1 
 
 In a pedantic compilation of phrafes ulcd 
 by the annalill Q^ CLAUDIUS, has preiervecl 
 for the fake of the word fruniicor. " Illi 
 kt vero omni jure atquc honeftate inter- 
 " difti : ego ncque aqua nequc igne careo: 
 " ct iumma gloria fruniicor. " Happy 
 MET EL LTS ! happy in the conscience of 
 thy own virtue ! h.ippy in thy pious Ion, 
 and in that excellent friend who rdeinbled 
 thee in merit and in fortune ! 
 
 RUTIUUS had defended Afia asrainft the 
 
 _? 
 
 extortions of the publicans, according to 
 the ilrift juiticc or wiiich he made profel- 
 lion, and to the p.iriiv u] ir duty of h'.s 
 office. The equeftrian or 'er were upon 
 this account his - nemier, an.' the Marian 
 faction was fo ol * ourlK on account of his 
 probity, as 11 as cut or hatred to ME- 
 TELM'O. ihe n it irn<Kent man of the 
 city .:s accu! : - 1 or corruption. The belt 
 man was procured hy cnc wortl, by Ari- 
 eirs -, a name dedicatttl to i'ltamy ". Tliofe 
 \vno had tl.:;cd up the i";.lie accufation lac 
 ns judges, and pronounce i the unjull ft,-n- 
 tencc ng.:in!i him. He hardly dc;-ned to 
 
 * There \va r-norht-r A r i c t r , in th* TC'T ff 
 T i ii t R. i x. ., f'ltiiou-; f< r Ir:' gluttony; aai n third 
 j:i the tim. 1 ol'l'uAjAN. 
 
 F f 2 tl-.^nd
 
 452 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 defend his caufe, but retired into the Kait, 
 where that Roman virtue, which Rome 
 couk) not bear, was received with honor *. 
 Shall R v T 1 1. 1 u s now be deemed unhappy, 
 when they who condemned him are, tor 
 that action, delivered down as criminals to 
 all future generations ? when he quitred 
 his country with greater eaie than he would 
 lu tier his exile to finifh ? when he alone 
 duril re f ufe the dictator SVLLA, and being 
 recalled home, not only declined to go, 
 but (led farther off? 
 
 \\'HAT do you propole, it may be fare!, 
 by thefe examples, multitudes of whi( h 
 are to be collected from the memorials of 
 tb'ir.er a*_K.s r 1 propole to fhew th.tt as 
 change or place, fimply confidered, can 
 render n.) man unhappy, 1o the other evils 
 v/Kich arc r.hu'Cted to exile, cither cunr.or 
 li.'.j | rn to wife and virtuous men; or, if 
 they do h:ip --n to tliein, cannot render 
 them ri:iier;:t^le. Stones are hard., and 
 c:ii:es or H e :."" cohl : ;:rd .ill who leel them, 
 i'r el t.^.t ::i ali'/.c - : -. But th:- <;ood or the bad 
 
 C? 
 
 ever.;;, wh.ich fortune brings upon i:s, arc 
 fell aw.(>n!i'^ to what cju.ilitus we, not 
 ir.ey, h.;ve. They are in thcmlelves in- 
 
 1 . 1 N prt v. 
 '. On c.xiic. 
 
 ui'-T'.Iti
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 453 
 
 different and common accidents, and they 
 acquire ftrength by nothing but our vice 
 or our wcakncls. Fortune can difpcnlc 
 neither felicity nor infelicity unleis we co- 
 operate with her. Few men, who are un- 
 happy under the lols of an cftate, w HI LI 
 be happy in the pofTcfTion of it : and thofe, 
 who deiervc to enjoy the advantages which 
 exile takes away, will not be unhappy when 
 they are deprived of them. 
 
 IT grieves me to make an exception to 
 this rule; but TULLV was one fo remark- 
 ably, that the example can be neither con- 
 cealed, nor palled over. This great man, 
 who had been the faviour of his country, 
 who had feared, in the iupport of that caufe, 
 neither the intuits of a deiperate party, nor 
 the daggers of afiaffins, when he came to 
 fuffer for the fame caufe, funk under the 
 weight. He difhonored that banilhment 
 which indulgent providence meant to be 
 the means of rendering his glory complete. 
 Uncertain where he mould go, or what he 
 ihould do, fearful as a woman, and fro ward 
 as a child, he lamented the lois of his r.;nk, 
 of his riches, and of his fplendid popularity. 
 Tlis eloquence ierved only to paint his ig- 
 nominy in ilronger colors. H wept over 
 the ruins of his fine houfe which CI.ODIUS 
 F f 3 had
 
 454 REFLECTIONS upon 
 had demolifhed: and his reparation from 
 TERENTIA, whom he repudiated not long 
 afterwards, was perhaps an afiliaion to 
 him at this time. Ever)' thing becomes 
 intolerable to the man who is once fub- 
 dueci by grief*. He regrets what he took 
 no pleauire in enjoying, and, overloaded 
 already, he fhrinks at the weight of a fea- 
 ther. CICLRO'S behaviour, in Ihort, was 
 luch that iiis rricncs, as well as his enemies, 
 believed him to have loll his lenics-}. 
 CAESAR beheld, with a iecret fatisigftion, 
 the man, who had rcfufed to be his lieute- 
 nant:, weeping under the rod of Ci.oDirs. 
 ro.M!'v hoped to find fomc ext.uk- tor his 
 O'.vn inrrat:tude in the contempt which tlie 
 Iricr.-!, whom he h;:d abandoned, cxpolcd 
 hiirlcif to. Nay A TTict'.s judged him too 
 meanly attached to his l^nru r lortune, and 
 rcpru:u ':.'.'} hiin ior it. A'J Tiers, wi.ulc 
 
 i !..tit in I c.-:r.^ 
 Ken ivutd vitli 
 t^'pi:^ well v. :;!i 
 on IK r.c ^ : even 
 
 grcac t.-krif. were 
 v. ho pl.^id ins p:: 
 
 lli'Jf) 
 
 rich, .in : who woulJ 
 
 h.:;e 
 
 jnf.iiriv iii Ailki.-, 
 
 for kc 
 
 ;iil lide-j .:;.'.! VCI.LI. 
 
 i' ( ;H' < 
 
 rrvia-r.' 1.. ;::. A.! Atuc 
 
 t ; i -. 
 
 f \ '..:. :. ; . i: :.;.T. . 
 
 '.T.o inl-ir .. " <'M j.. J'. 
 
 * Pt.fr. \ . ;
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 455 
 
 ATTICUS blufhed for TULLY, and the moft 
 piaufibie man alive aflumed the ftyle of 
 CATO. 
 
 I HAVE dwelt the longer on this inftance, 
 becaufe, whillt it takes nothing from the 
 truth which has been cftablifhed, it teaches 
 us another of great importance. \Vile men 
 are certainly fuperior to all the evils of exile. 
 But in a Uriel: fenie he, who has left any 
 one pafiion in his foul unfubdued, will not 
 deferve that appellation. It is not enough 
 that we have (ludied all the duties of pub- 
 lic and private life, that we are perfectly 
 acquainted with them, and that we live 
 up to them in the eye of the world : a 
 paflion that lies dormant in the heart, and 
 has efcaped our fcrutiny, or which we have 
 obferved and indulged as venial, or which 
 we have perhaps encouraged, as a princi- 
 ple to excite and to aid our virtue, may 
 one time or other dcftroy our tranquillity, 
 and difgrace our whole character. When 
 virtue has Heeled the mind on every fide, 
 v/e are invulnerable on every fide : but 
 ACHILLLS was wounded in the heel. The 
 lead part, overlooked or neglected, may 
 expolc us to receive a mortal blow. Rea- 
 fon cannot obtain the abfolute dominion of 
 our fouls by one victory. Vice has many 
 F f 4 referves,
 
 45 6 REFLECTIONS upon LXILF. 
 refer ves, \vru h mull be beaten v many 
 flrongholds, uhiui imul be jorccd , and 
 \ve mr.y be i^und c.' j. n,of in many t::al>, 
 witlV.ut being lo in all. \\ e may refill 
 the kveull, and ) leld to the wcakcll at- 
 tacks or fortune. \\ e may have ct the 
 better or avarice-, the ir.oii epidemical 
 thleale oi the mind, and yet be Haves 
 to an.biuon *. \Ve may have j<ui<Md our 
 foiiK c>t the trp.r of tit at!:, art: \et ionic 
 pther t-r.r ;r.;:y venture to lurk behind. 
 1'iiij Nvas the Cafe of CiCiKO. \'anity \\as 
 Jiii caiehnal vice-;-. It had, I ijutflion 
 not, \sanicd his zeal, quickened his in- 
 ciuitry, animatec! the love of hi> c-:rjr,try ; 
 and lupportetl jii> conirancy a^.iinil C'ATI- 
 Lr.-f. : out it <,:ive to CI.C.DIIS ,:n entire 
 victory over h:.n. lie v. as not alraid to 
 
 S * N f c A fays th" r^vtrnrv < frtll t!ii r ., a 
 to the ftoic..! fyrt<m, vvlr>h hn>< xt-r lie- J<|.;. 
 en rr.sny ccc.tlH'iis. " >i o>i: f ri OJIP.T'I (; 
 * nartcin f'-riun.if (.^i^ t.lu r. !-. ;> ill, it!, in .ul.crli.", 
 
 " onir.f ( t- ^i :'.:::. i C.-r. :::', \ rh< :r.r:.:::;-riM 
 
 " fcncris l.uiu.ini p: 1 ". i:.' r.i::i t hi ..nil-lrio r.cn 
 ' ficict. ^i uliiinur' i!:cn-. A - . P'C"!'. , ; J H"i. 
 
 N r. f:r.;:'.!. x-itia r.;t:< . lr v ! ; .I;IUT . ir.r.:.t j-.-. :tcr. 
 jilt. i : ' p;.'^:ii:m fi-::u ! \ ;i < mir. JM.l. 
 
 rum i;.:'..' i!'ita lihcrarru^. I"' i!- i;rt. I. iv. c. ;-. 
 
 (^iii nutt-i.i h .in t xitium uiium, h..ijct oii.ni.i. 11). 
 L. v. c. iq 
 
 f In aiiimo rtri-:n '!<;;. r c.j !\ qu..!. fuit Ci- 
 frr;i.i , j'l.iriiiiuii. jnuf:. Vfi. :'.i!. i.. i.
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 457 
 
 die, and part with eftate, rank, honor, 
 and every thing which he lamented the lofs 
 of: but he was afraid to live deprived of 
 them. " Ut vivus haec amittcrcm *. " 
 
 He would probably have met death on this 
 occalion with the fame iirmncfs with winch 
 he laid to POPILIUS LAENUS, his client and 
 his murderer, " Approach, veteran, and, 
 " if at lead thou canit do this well, cut 
 " off my head." But he could not bear 
 to fee himfelf, and to be leen by others, 
 (tripped ot thole trappings which he was 
 accuitomed to wear. This made him 
 break out into lo many fhameful expref- 
 iions. " Poifum oblivifci qui fucrim ? 
 " non fentire qui fim ? quo caream ho- 
 " nore ? qua gloria ?" And fpeaking of 
 his brother " Vitavi ne viderem ; ne aut 
 " illius luctum fqualoremque afpicerem, aut 
 <c me, quern ille florentiffimum reliquerat, 
 " perditum illi affliftumque offerrem f." 
 He had thought of death, and prepared 
 his mind for it. There were occalions too 
 where his vanity might be flattered by it. 
 But the Lime vanity hindered him in his 
 prolperous eft ate from luppofing fuch a 
 reverie as afterwards happened to him. 
 When it came, it found him unprepared, 
 
 * Ep. ad Attic. L. Hi. ep. 3, 7, 10. et paflim. 
 f L. iii. ep. 10 ad Attic. 
 
 it
 
 458 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 it furprifed him, it dunned him ; for he 
 was ihli toiul of the pomp and hurry of 
 R we, " finm;m, et opes, ftrepitumque 
 " komae," and unweancd from all thofe 
 things v.hich h;tbit renders neceflary, and 
 which nature has k-tt indifferent. 
 
 We hpve enumerate,! them above, and 
 it i<- time to defccnd i:uo a more particu- 
 lar examination of them. Change of place 
 then rn ay be borne by every man. li is 
 the delight of many. But who can bear 
 the evils which accompany exile ? You 
 \vho nfi; the queftion can bear them. F.vcry 
 one who confiders them as they arc in 
 themfclvrs, indead of looking at them 
 through thefalfe optic which prejudice holds 
 before our eyes. 1' or what? you iuve lod 
 your edate : reduce your defires, and you 
 will perceive yourlelt to be as rich as ever, 
 \vith thi'i confidcrablc aclvant.?cf to boot, 
 th.'.t your c.iri s will be diminn'licd. Our 
 natural r.nd real wants * are confined to nar- 
 
 arum H.i <!cfii!cria finita funt : rx f. ifa opinionc 
 u' dcfinant nrn habcm, nullus ci;im tcr- 
 minu. faifo c'\. SKN. l.p. i(>. 
 
 Mxcc.'j'. tx Lib. Si N. falfcly fo callc.l. 
 Si ^(i u.uui.un \iu", nunquain cii 1 pauper; fi acl 
 opininnrm, n jr.cjj.im tlivr?. lvv:;;i.i]:;i natura cicfi- 
 dcr.tr, opiiiio immcnfum. SIN.|'J>. i;,>. 
 
 row
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 459 
 
 row bounds, whilit thofe which fancy and 
 cuftom c r cate arc confined to none. Truth 
 Jics within a little and certain compafs, 
 but error is immcnfc. If we fuffcr our de- 
 fires therefore to wander beyond thefe 
 bounds, they winder eternally. " Nefcio 
 " quid curta 1cm per abelt rci." We be- 
 come neci'flitous in the mid ft of plenty, 
 and our poverty encreafes with our riches. 
 Reduce your delires, be able to fay with 
 the apofllc of Greece, to whom ERASMUS 
 was ready to addrefs his prayers, " quam 
 " inultis ipfc non cgeo ! ' banifh out 
 of your exile all imaginary, and you will 
 fuifer no real wants. The little dream 
 which is left will fufEce to quench the 
 third of nature, and that which cannot be 
 quenched by it, is not your third, but 
 your diftemper; a diftemper formed by 
 the vicious habits of your mind, and not 
 the effect of exile. How great a part of 
 mankind bear poverty with chearfulnefs, 
 becauie they have been bred in it, and are 
 accuitomed to it ? * Shall we not be able 
 to acquire, by reafon and by reflection, 
 what the meaneft artifan po fie fibs by habit ? 
 Shall thole who have fo many advantages 
 
 * SEN. De con. ad Hel. 
 
 over
 
 460 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 over him, be llavcs to wants and necefluies 
 ot which he is ignorant ? The rich, whole 
 wanton appetites neither the produce of 
 one country, nor of one part or the world, 
 can fatisfy, for whom the whole habita- 
 ble globe is ranfacked, for whom the cara- 
 vans of the call arc continually in march, 
 and the remoteft leas are covered with fhips i 
 thcle pampered creatures, fated with fu- 
 perrluity, are often glad to inhabit an hum- 
 ble cot, and to make an homely meal. 
 They run for refuge into the arms of fru- 
 gality. Madmen that they are, to live al- 
 ways in fear of what they lometimes wilh 
 for, and to fly from that life whicli they 
 find it luxury to imitate ! Let us cait our 
 eyes backwards on thole great men who 
 lived in the ages ot virtue, of limplicity, of 
 frugality, and let us bluih to think that 
 we enjoy in b.uiifhment more than they 
 were ii!.:!UTs of in the midft of their glory, 
 in thr unbolt aftiuence of their iortune. 
 l..rt us imagine that we behold a great 
 dictator giving audience to the Samnite 
 ambaifadors, and preparing on the hearth 
 hi.-, mc.jn rcpall wua the lame hand which 
 had lo of ien fubdued the enemies of tlie 
 commonwealth, and borne the triumphal 
 laurel to the capitol. Let us remember 
 
 that
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 461 
 
 that PLATO hnd but * three ferv.ints, and 
 that ZENO had none -p. SOCRATES, the 
 reformer of his country, was maintained, as 
 MENENIUS AOKIPFA, the arbiter of his 
 country was buried, by a contribution . 
 .While ATTILIUS REGULUS beat the Car- 
 thaginians in Afric, the flight of his plough- 
 man reduced his family to dittrcfs at home, 
 and the tillage of his little farm became 
 the public care. SCIIMO died without leav- 
 ing enough to marry his daughters, and 
 their portions were paid out of the trea- 
 
 * PLATO'S will, in Dioc. LAER. mentions four fer- 
 vants. bcfidcs DIANA, to whom he gave her freedom. 
 
 APULLIUS makes his citate cotiiiit in a little gar- 
 den near the academy, two fcrv.ints, a patten tor 
 facritices, and as much gold as would ferve to make 
 ear-rings for a child. 
 
 f ZENO was owner of a thoufand talents when he 
 came from Cyprus into Greece, and lie ufcd to lend 
 his money out upon mips at an high ir.rercll HJ 
 kept, in fh'jrt, a kind of infurance-office He loll 
 thi-, eltr.te perhaps when he laid, " rede fane a^it 
 " fortuna, quae nos ad philolophiam impellit." At- 
 terwarda lie received many and great pn !-::it> from 
 ASTIGONUS. So that his great fiugali;y and lim- 
 pidity of life, was the effcft of his choice, and rot 
 ufnccelTiiy. Vid Dio. LAER. 
 
 ^ Dio^. L\ER. Vit. Soc quotes A?. isTo.xrr; v: 
 for aftirming th.-it SOCRATES ufed to keep a box, aud 
 lived upon ihz money which \vu ; p :t i::to it: " PJ- 
 fita igit'.;r arctila, colligifi^ pjcunia.n our.c uar,-:ui ; 
 CuoluinDU autem si, rurfus pofui::? " 
 
 ill-/
 
 462 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 fury of the ilatei for lure it was jufttiuit 
 the people of Rome fhould once pay tri- 
 bute to him, who had cftablifhed a perpe- 
 tual tribute on Carthage. After fuch exam- 
 ples fhall we be afraid of poverty ? mall we 
 ciifdain to be adopted into a family which 
 has lo many illuitrious anceftors ? lhall we 
 complain of banifhmenc for taking froru 
 m what the greatdt philolbphcrs, and the 
 greatcft heroes of antiquuy never enjoyed ? 
 
 You will find fault perhaps, and at- 
 tribute to artifice, that I confider finely 
 misfortunes which come altogether on the 
 baniflied man, and overbear him with their 
 united weight. You could fupport change 
 of place if it was not accompanied with po- 
 verty, or poverty if it was not accompanied 
 with the Reparation from your family and 
 your friends, with the !jfs of your rank, con- 
 fideration, ami pow^r, \vit!i coiuemp: and 
 if;nominy. \Vhoevcr iie be v. ho rcalons in 
 this manner, k: him take the following 
 nnl'.ver. The Icuil uf thclc circumllances 
 is fiiiL'ly lu Ific ient to render the man mife- 
 r.ibl-- who i, not jirep.urd for it, who has 
 ri'jt ciivdlcd hiiv.felf (: that pafl'KJn ujion 
 which ;i is ducckxl to work. Bur he who 
 h.is got the mallcrv of all his jullions, 
 who has iurdten all thc-ie accidents, ami 
 
 prepared
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 463 
 
 prepared his mind to endure them all, will 
 be lupcrior to all of them, and to all of them 
 at once as well as fingly. Me will not bear 
 the lofs of his rank, becaufe he can bear the 
 lofs of his eftate : but he will bear both, 
 becaufe he is prepared for both i becaufe 
 he is free from pride as much as he is from 
 avarice. 
 
 You are feparated from your family and 
 your friends. Take the lift of them, and 
 look it well over. How few of your fa- 
 mily will you find who deferve the name of 
 friends ? and how few among thefe who 
 arc really fuch ? Erale the names of lucli 
 as ought not to Hand on the roll, and the 
 voluminous catalogue will loon dwindle 
 into a narrow compafs. Regret if }ou 
 pleafe, your leparation from this fmall 
 remnant. Far be it from me, whillt 1 de- 
 claim againlt a lhameful and vicious weak- 
 nefs of mind, to preicribe the fentiments 
 of a virtuous frisndfhip. Regret your le- 
 paration from your friends : but regret it 
 like a man who delerves to be theirs. This 
 is itrcngth, not weaknels of mind ; it is 
 virtue, not vice. 
 
 BUT the leaft uneafmefs under the lo.'s 
 of the rank which we held is ignominious. 
 There is no valuable rank a:;;j::g rren, 
 
 but
 
 464 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 but that which real merit afllgns. The 
 princes of the earth may give names, and 
 inftitute ceremonies, and exact the obler- 
 vation of them ; their imbecility and their 
 witkcdnefs may prompt them to cloihe 
 fools and knaves with robes of honor, and 
 emblems of wifdom and virtue : but no 
 man will be in truth iuperior to another, 
 without fuperior merit ; and that rank, can 
 no more be taken from us, than the merit 
 which eftablifhes it. The fuprcme autho- 
 rity gives a fictitious and arbitrary value 
 to coin, which is therefore not current alike 
 in all times and in all places , but the real 
 value remains invariable, and the provi- 
 dent man, who gets rid as fait as he can 
 of the drofly piece, hoards up the good 
 filver. Thus merit will not procure the 
 fame confideraticn univerlally. Bu: what 
 then ? the title to this conlideration is the 
 lurr.j and will b<- found alike in every cir- 
 fumilantc by thole who are wile and vir- 
 tue, us themlelves. It it is not owned by 
 iiu h as are otherw jle, notliing is how- 
 ever tar. en Irom us ; we have no realbn 
 to coM.'plain. 'J'hry confidered i:s tor a 
 rank which \\e had ; icr our denomina- 
 tion, net ror <n:r intrinfic value. \Vc have 
 that r.ir.l;, t!.;u denomination no longer, 
 and t!it-y . online r us no longer: they ad- 
 mired
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 465 
 
 mired in us what \vc admiral not in onr- 
 lelves. If they learn to ncglec"l us, K-t us 
 learn to pity them. Their adiduity w:is 
 importunate: let us not complain of the 
 cafe which this change procures us; let u . 
 rather apprehend the return of tha? rank 
 and that power, which like a funny day, 
 would brinjr back thefc little infects, and 
 
 O 
 
 make them Iwarm once more about us. 
 I know how apt we are, under fpecious 
 pretences, to difguife our weaknefies and 
 our vices, and how often we fucceed not 
 only in deceiving the world, but even in 
 deceiving ourfelves. An inclination to do 
 good is infeparable from a virtuous mind, 
 and therefore the man, who c*annot b?ar 
 with patience the lofs of that rank r.nd 
 power which he enjoyed, may be willing 
 to attribute his regrets to the impofTibility 
 which he fuppofes himfelf reduced to of 
 fatisfying this inclination. But let fuch an 
 one know, that a wife man contents him- 
 ielf with doing as much ^ood as his litua- 
 
 o o 
 
 tion allows him to do -, tiiat there is no 
 fituation wherein we may not do a great 
 deal : and that when we are deprived or 
 greater power to do r :o:c good, we cfcapc 
 at the fame time the temptation of 
 fome evil *. 
 
 * SEX. De con. ad Bid.
 
 4.66 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 THE inconvcniencies, which we have 
 mentioned, carry nothing along with them 
 difficult to be borne by a wile and virtuous 
 man ; and tlioie whirh remain to be men- 
 tioned, contempt and ignominy, can never 
 fall to his lot. It is impoilible that he 
 who reverences himlelf fhould be delpifcd 
 by others-, and how can ignominy alien 
 the man who collects all his llrength within 
 himJclf, who appeals from the judgment 
 of chc muhiiude to another tribunal, and 
 lives independent of mankind and of the 
 accidents of life ? CATO loll the clc^ rion or 
 praetor, and that of coniul - y but is any one- 
 blind enough to truth to imagine that thefc 
 repulks reflected any clilgrace on him J 
 The dignity of thole two magiftracirs would 
 have been cncreafcd by liis wearing them. 
 They furfcrcd, not CATO. 
 
 You have fulfilled all the duties of a 
 good citizen, you have been true to your 
 truft, con It ant in your engagements, and 
 have puriued the interell ot your coun- 
 try without regard to the enemies you 
 created, and the dangers you run. You 
 fevered her intercft, as much as lay in 
 your power, from thofe of her factions, and 
 from thofe of her neighbours and allies 
 roo, when they became different. -She 
 
 reaps
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 467 
 
 reaps the benefit of thele fcrviccs, and you 
 hi Her for them. You arc banifhed, and 
 purlucd wiili ignominy, and thole whom 
 you hindered from triumphing at her ex- 
 pence, revenge thcmfclves at yours. The 
 pcrlbns, in oppofition to whom you ferved, 
 or even laved the public, confpire and ac- 
 complifh your private ruin. Thele are 
 your acculers, and the giddy ungrateful 
 crowd your judges. Your name is hung 
 u p in the tables of profcription, and art 
 joined to malice endeavours to make your 
 belt actions pals for crimes, and to Itain 
 your character. For this purpole the la- 
 cred voice of the fenate is made to pro- 
 nounce a lye, and thofe records, which 
 ought to be the eternal monuments of truth, 
 become the vouchers of impollure and ca- 
 lumny. Such circumfbances as theie you 
 think intolerable, and you would prefer 
 death to fo ignominious an exile. Deceive 
 not yourlelf. The ignominy remains with 
 them who perfecute unjultly, not with 
 him who differs unjuit periecution. " Re- 
 calcitrat undique tutus." Suppole that in 
 the act which bar.iihes you, it was de- 
 clared that you have fome contagious dif- 
 t'rmper, that you are crooked, or other- 
 wile deformed. This would render the 
 G cr 2 lecrifhtors
 
 468 REFLECTIONS upon 
 
 icgiliators ridiculous *. The other renders 
 them infanvou*. But neither one nor the 
 other can affect the man, who in *n health- 
 ful well proportioned boJy enjo\s a con- 
 focncc void of all the olfciK.es akribed to 
 him. Inftead of fuch an ex.!-. would you 
 compound, that you micrht Jive at home 
 in crate anil plenty, to H- ihc inllrun./nc of 
 blending thefc contrary intereils once more 
 together, and ot'^ivinji; but the third pl^ce 
 to that of your country ? Would you pro- 
 iliture her power to the ambition of others, 
 under the pretence of fecuring her from 
 imaginary danger, .v.d drain her rie!;es 
 into the pockets ol t.'ie n^-.iiicil arid vilelt 
 of her citizens, uncle: i.'-.e pretence (jf p.iy- 
 in^ her debt 1 ? If you could fubrnit to fo 
 infamous a compolinon, you are nor the 
 man to \v!:om I ai'ciiels my <.!i!ci)i;rlr, or 
 witii \\hom I Nvill have a;iy co:r.:p<. ice : 
 and if you 1. :ve virrue enough to ciildain 
 it, -\vl-.y ll-.ould y(?'.i rep: :ie ac the other al- 
 rernative? Jlar.:}h:::ent irom fui !i a roun- 
 tiy, and with lucii circumi^aiiCL-;, :> ]j];c 
 Lcn\[i delivered trom prilon. J h y x;.s 
 uas tlnven out ok the kingdom <.: J\,;;:iis 
 for counrerfciLir.g tiie coin, and SIR \-jo- 
 
 ;::c :>ft-\ci.ii L 1 1
 
 REFLECTION'S upon E.VILF. 469 
 
 Nice*, thought that forgery mi^Kc be com- 
 mitted in order to get bamihcd from Scri- 
 phos. But you have obtained your liberty 
 bv doinf your dutv. 
 
 > D J 
 
 KAMsr;'.T;:.vr, with all its train of evil-, 
 is I'o fur from beino; the canic of contempt, 
 that he who bears up with an undaunted 
 fpirit ug.unit them, while ib many are de- 
 jected by them, er-jJt-; on his very misfor- 
 tunes a trophy to his honor : for fuch is 
 the frame ainl tcn^per of our nr/uds, tha: 
 nothing ilrikes us w>th greater acliriiraticn 
 
 & f 
 
 than a man intrepid in the midlt of mif- 
 fortunes. Of ail ignominies an ijinomi- 
 
 CJ \^, 
 
 nioi 1 .^ death mutt be ailoved to be the 
 greatell , and yet where is the blalphemer 
 who v/ili prelurr.e to defame the death of 
 SOCRATES*? This faint entered the prifon 
 with the lame countc:ur.ce with w ; ;S he 
 reduced thirty tyrants, .rid he toe . ;fT 
 ignominy from the plac\ tor liow c )uld 
 it be deemed a prilo.i wL^- SOCRATL-.S 
 there ? PHOCION was led execution . 
 the fame city, all thole v. u aie: the I.AI 
 proceHion calt their eyes :ne gFoun 
 ;*.::d with throbbing hvarcs b. \\ ..iicd, ;i 
 ;he innocen: man, butjullicc herfelf, \vh 
 
 * SEN. DC con. ad Hel. 
 G 
 
 o ->
 
 470 REFLECTIONS upon EXILI:. 
 
 was in him condemned. Yet there was a 
 \vrctch found, for monllers arc lomciimcs 
 produced in contradiction to the ordinary 
 rules of nature, who Ipit in his face as he 
 palled along. PHOCION wiped his cheek, 
 Imiled, turned to the magiitrate, and iaul, 
 " Admonilh this man ncc to be lb nally 
 " lor the iuture." 
 
 IGNOMINY then caa take no hold MI 
 Virtue * -, tor Virtue is in every condition 
 the lame, and challenges the fame rc'pta. 
 \Vcapp-aud the world when ih^- j>rolj,eri , 
 and when Ihe lalls into adverilty we ap- 
 plaud her. Like the temples of" the (ioci<-, 
 (lie is venerable even in fur ruins. Atier 
 this mult it not appear a decree of maJ- 
 nelb to deier one ir.oment accjuiring the 
 only arm> capable of deiending us ;;t:.::'.ft 
 attacks which .it every iv.onur.i wcai-.-tx- 
 j'oled to ? Our IKI;^,' miier.ibie, or !i<t 
 niuer;.;)!!*, \slun \ve i.iil i::t) n. !!; p. :ies, 
 depiciuis on t!;o ma:;r.cr i;i wi;; k ;;we f ;ive 
 en;c;;,c-d j loipcrity. h v.e h.-ive applied 
 curlelve.i bcurne* to tiie itudy ci wik: m, 
 ,i t .d to the { r^::a: c>r" virtue, tht.i cviis 
 become indilicTciH ; L .t if \se Ii.t.e lien- 
 Jcdled to do lu, tliey become n-.-LelVary. jn 
 
 Si:.. LV con.ai! Jkl. 
 
 one
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 471 
 
 one cale they arc evil, in the other they 
 are remedies for greater evils than them- 
 Iclves. ZENO* rejoiced that a Ihipwreck 
 had thrown him on the Athenian coaft : 
 and he owed to the lofs of his fortune the 
 acquiikion which he made of virtue, ot wif- 
 dom, of immortality. There are good 
 and bad airs for the mind, as well as for 
 the body. Profperity often irritates ovir 
 chronical diilempers, and leaves no hopes 
 of finding any fpecific but in adverfity. 
 In fuch cafes banifhment is like change of 
 air, and the evils we fuffer are like rough 
 medicines applied to inveterate difcafes. 
 \Vhat-f- ANACHARSIS faid of the vine, may 
 aptly enough be faid of profperity. She 
 bears the three grapes of drunkcnnefs, of 
 pleature, and of ibrrow , and happy it is 
 if the lalt can cure the mifchief which the 
 former work. When afflictions fail to 
 have their due effect, the cale is defpcrare. 
 They are the lalt remedy which indulgent 
 Providence ufes : and if they fail, we mull 
 languiih and die in mifery and contempt. 
 Vain men ! how feldom do we know what 
 to wiih or to pray for ? When we pray 
 again tl misfortunes, and when we fear 
 them moll, we want them moil. It was 
 for this realbn that PYTHAGORAS forbid his 
 
 ' Dio. I.A-R. 1 SEN.
 
 47- REFLECT IONS upon EXILT. 
 
 liilciplcs to afk any thing in particular of 
 GOD. The (hortclt and the belt prayer 
 which \vc can add re h> to him, who knows 
 our wants, and our lunor.'.nce in alkinr, is 
 i..:* : " 'i'nv will be clone.'' 
 
 Ti'Lt.y f.iv, in Lire pnrt o* h'.s \\o;!:s 
 that: a, iupi-iu^l . i: :i;-j objector' ;iii j-.hi- 
 !(.!>: hy, lo the c! : ":r.tes arv.or.:r : !;;it:!:)- 
 j-iicTi mi/j rroiii t,.r.r cilkiti'.: nc-T.ons t; 
 trie love: v i :i L r o-~. Kfti.:u.;!e them nt 
 tiMt poir.r, yoii i\.cr.ile tuini in the ivil. 
 '1 he lci:oj! ot ZLXO pl.:<.\vi ii\\.-> U,vi.ici.'n 
 :'/; f jd in n;:ki'd v:rti:v, a::d \vuund tiic pun- 
 c:t'!e up ro r.:i (.T.:\\^.V2 hi-yo;- ; d the j-jiicii 
 ff' ii.'itTc- and truth. A Ipirit or :; p-.jition 
 fj 2!:other tiui'iriiic, v.hicu ITC\V 11.10 JMV.IL 
 v(ii:i.j \vi,:ie Zi::o f.-)t!:;liyjvi, nuj i:t: Dfca- 
 !:;,n ihis i;;cels. I'.pjctufs placed t!:e !;- 
 
 v.\-:~'j \v::v:v, "f ... :,riit.i v n.;.... n. 
 If:, kvr/.r. n! '.: lv.!p t< pu-vei.t !. .-, 
 c! v *.::r.e, 1 u : . riv.u!li;i) cr.:..:;^, : t;:c i: ;- 
 1 ; i- T in tn::'i I!,T- i> no: lo IV.L\:I 
 c::.: r. - ncj h/*v.v en i'oicii:n rr ".-' vd to K -
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILF. 473 
 
 of the Portiquc would have borne a fit of 
 the (lone, on the principle of ZENO, with 
 greater magnanimity and patience than 
 EPICURUS did, on thofe of his own philo- 
 fophy *. However, ARISTOTLE took a 
 middle way, or explained himfelf better, 
 and placed happinefs in the joint advan- 
 tages of the mind, of the body, and of 
 fortune. They are realbnably joined ; but 
 certain it is, that they mull not be placed 
 on an equal foot. We can much better 
 bear the privation of the la ft, than of the 
 others; and poverty itlelf, which mankind 
 is io afraid of, " per mare paupcriem fu- 
 " giens, per faxa, per ignes, " is furely 
 preferable to madneis, or the ftone, tho 
 f CHRYSIPITS thought it better to live mad, 
 than not to live ! If banilhment therefore, 
 bv taking from us the advantages of for- 
 
 * * ^ O 
 
 tune cannot take from us the more valuable 
 advantages of the mind and body, when 
 \vc have them -, and if the fame acciuent 
 is able to ivilore them to us, when we have 
 
 * Corr.' t \":c the rcprcfentntions made fo frequently 
 
 ( f tiii- lii'O.i ..H- '>f \o!upty t.ai'.^ht by Ki-ic'J K u->, v%it!i 
 ;!K- acci-'.in: xvlii^'i he liiniiclt" gives in hii. lector t 
 'i\lr.\ui.^;:i r,, of thr U'nle wherein he undcrltocxl this 
 ;\ord. \ id. Dio',. L.xi n. 
 
 I In L;. tlii;d h;>on of X.iture, citrd by i'.'.u- 
 r ARCH, ; n :lie tieatilv- on tlic contr.uiictiuns of il:o 
 i>toic-;. 
 
 bll
 
 474 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 loll them, barr.tiiinem is a very flight mif- 
 loriunc 10 thole who arc already under th< 
 fciouunion ot rcakni, ami a very great blcf- 
 fcng to tlu :: who arc Hill plunged in vices 
 which ruin tl>e health both ot body and 
 mmd, it is to be wifhed lor, in favor 
 01 iuch as thefc, and to be feared by none. 
 It T.C are in this cafe, K t us tecond the de- 
 iigr.s ci Providence in our favor, and make 
 iorac amends lor neglecting former oppor- 
 tunities by not letting Hip the lad. " Si 
 noiis fanus, currcs hydropicus." \Ve may 
 iliori^n tiic evils which we might have pre- 
 vented, and as we jzet the better of our 
 tliiorderly paiHo-'is, and vicious habits, we 
 fhail feel our anxiety dimiuifh in propor- 
 tion. All the approaches to virtue are 
 comfortable. \Yiih lio-.v much joy will 
 tlie nun, who improves lus nii^lortunes in 
 this manner, diicovcr that tliuie evils, 
 which he aiiribuLcd in his exile, fprung 
 from his vanity and i: liy, and vamili \vitli 
 tiiein ! 1 U: vviil k-<- thai, :;) hi.-> iormcr tem- 
 per oi rii'.nJ, li'- r,L-,r.blcd the effeminate 
 prince \vl.o could din.k no* water but that 
 ot ihc river Choaipc', -, or tl;e fimplc queen, 
 in oi.c oi it c tr.i^edie^ of h.rRiriPts, who 
 tomj i.::iK-d bitterly, that ll\c had not 
 
 On ba::i::.:::c:;:.
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 475 
 
 lighted the nuptial torch, and that the river 
 II menus had not furnifhed the water at her 
 Ton's wedding. Seeing his former (late in 
 this ridiculous light, he will labor on 
 with plealure towards another as contrary 
 as podible to it-, and when he arrives there, 
 he will be convinced by the llrongctt or all 
 proofs, his own experience, that lie was 
 unfortunate becaufc he was vicious, not bc- 
 caule he was banifhed. 
 
 IF I was not afraid of being thought to re- 
 fine too much, I would venture to put iome 
 advantages of fortune, which are clue to 
 exile, into the leak againlt thole which \ve 
 lofe by exile. One there is which lias been 
 negleded even by great and wile men. 
 DLMLTIUUS PHALLREUS, after his expul- 
 fion from Athens, became iirtt minuter to 
 the king of EGYPT-, and THEMISTOCLCS 
 found Inch a reception at the court of Perfia, 
 that he uled to lay his fortune had been 
 loll if he hnd not been ruined. But DE- 
 METRii's expofed hiiTiiclr, by his favor un- 
 der the ririL PTOLEMY, to a new difgrace 
 under the Iccond : and T H i. M i s T o c i. r. s, 
 who had been the captain CL a free people, 
 becaiiic the vulVal of die prince he had con- 
 quered. I low much better is it to take 
 hold of the proper advantage of exik 1 , and 
 
 to
 
 476 Rr.FLEcrioNs upon EXILE. 
 
 to live lor ourkives, when \ve arc under 
 na obligation of living for others : SiNfins, 
 x c.iprain ( f ^reat reputation under TRAJAN 
 ami A PR i AN, having obiained leave to 
 net ire, paflcd ICM'II )cars in I. is retreat, 
 and then dym*:, ordered dm mlcriptiun to 
 be put on I: is tuir.b: tli.it he had been iv.a- 
 r.y \ears on earth, but ih:it he had lived 
 onlv Irvc-n *. i; \. ,: .ire \\;!e, your leiiure 
 a-;i! I'C \\ortluly e:i.j'h^.\-ii .nul your rcncat 
 wiil .uid LINY iullrc to your Character. Iir.i- 
 :, : .CL- 'i"ii f c v DI L i.s in'1'nRAriA, orXcNo- 
 ; ; ON in !.:.- i;t:le tarm at Sciilus. In iuch 
 : rerrc.u \ou may lit down, like one of the 
 i!.. % i:tbi:::r.is ot" liiis ^'ho judped of the 
 Olyn.pic garner-, \virhout taking any part 
 K-, t!;vin. I - ar tr<-r:i the. lu:rrv ot thf world, 
 and a 1 molt an unconcerned Tjcaator oi 
 wiu.t pai!e> in ir, having paid 'm a paiblic 
 hie \siiat \ou owed to the p:i'< r.r a:-;-, ]-.ay 
 <n a j-.rjvatL- l;!e wh.-.t you ov.r : 
 V\'ri r v, a'i you live, \\jtluuil p...: 
 C'.::id your re ;'ULt'. :c;\ as \ou I 
 h:'.pj-ir.eix, on t!x 1 Hiiu'ati(-r. < 
 !: '\ MJ \v.:f-t the t..i nts the i;.ci;! 
 : ; v ;iec eHary n;/.:. ;'...!-. i;;r !'.:,;. 
 lii 1,0: i.ov. ever ir.uj ii *!:, i'-.'-d
 
 RE F i. r.cTioNs ujx.:i Kxn.r. 477 
 
 copy after the example of Sc u-io at 1-iu- 
 tenium. He able to lay to yourldr, 
 
 *' Innocius amo cklicias cloilamquc 
 
 4i qutClem." 
 
 Rural .nrmifements r.nd philofophical me- 
 ditations, will make your hours glide 
 Gnoothly on ; and it the ini!ul;:cncc- of 1 I i- 
 ven has givi-n vru a turiul likr J ..\!-:i.:r--^ 
 nothing is wanLir.j to m.ik,- y^u complete- 
 ly happy. 
 
 THLSE are fomc oftiiofe rc.'lv-dions whic'n 
 may lerve to tortify t!ie niind under ba- 
 nifhment, and under other niisiorrunes 
 of life, which it is every man's iiuereit to 
 prepare for, becaule tliey are cojuman to 
 all men 1 * : I lay they are common to all 
 men , becaule they who even eicape them 
 are equally expoled to them, 'i he djrts 
 of adverfe fortune are always levelL-J ..: 
 oi:r iieatls. Some re.icli us, ll>:ne grj-.c 
 againll us, and fly to v/ound our n.-i 
 bour.-:. ]_.et Ui t.'ierci.^'e i:;^.\>le an ii 
 temper on our minds <'-nd p:'.y \vith< 
 murmuring the tnbure V.T,IC!I v.e o'.vj :i 
 hunianuy. The \vi.i:-:r b.'ii:; c-;:.; .:^_
 
 478 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 
 
 we mull freeze. The fummer returns with 
 heat, and we muft melt. The inclemency 
 ot the air di (orders our health, and we mull 
 be Tick. 1 lere we are expofed to wild 
 bealh, and there to men more lav age than 
 the beafls : and it we eicape the inconve- 
 niencics and dangers of the air and the 
 earth, there are perils by water and perils 
 by fire. This cltublifhed courfc of things 
 it is not in our power to change -, but it is 
 in our power to afiume fuch a greatnefs of 
 mind as becomes wife and virtuous men ; 
 as may enable us to encounter the acci- 
 dents of life with fortitude, and to conform 
 ourfelvcs to the order of nature, who go- 
 verns her great kingdom, the world, by 
 continual mutations. Let us fubmit to 
 this order, let us be perluaded that what- 
 ever does happen ought to happen, and 
 never be lo ioolifh as to expoilulate with 
 nature. The bed refolution we can take 
 is to fuffer what we cannot alter, and to 
 puriue, without repining, the road which 
 Providence, who directs every thing, has 
 marked out to us : for it is not enough to 
 follow , and he is but a bid ibldicr who 
 ligh',, and marches on with relu<ftancy. 
 \Vc mull receive the order; with Ipirit and 
 chearfulncfs, and noc endeavour to llink 
 
 out
 
 REFLECTIONS upon EXILE. 479 
 
 out of the poll which is afiigncd to Ui in tiris 
 beautiful dilpofition ofr things, whereof 
 even our fuficrings make a nccertary part. 
 JLet us addrcls ourfclves to (JOD, who ro- 
 vcrns all, as CLKANTHLS did in thole ~.i 
 mirable veries, which arc goiiu^ to lole part 
 of their grace and energy in my tranlLtion 
 of them. 
 
 Parent of nature ! Maflor of :\r V.'o-!.! ! 
 
 Where'er thy Providence direct, bci.ol.l 
 
 My llcps with chc.irful rcli(Mi:iti.)'i tui:i. 
 
 Fate leads the willing, tirav ,-. :lic L.u !;-... ini or. 
 
 Why ihould I grieve, when giieviiiy 1 IMU:I i)-.-;jr 
 
 Or take with guilt, what guiklels 1 
 
 Thus let us fpeak, and thus let us act. Rc- 
 fignation to the will of GOD is true magnani- 
 mity. But the lure mark of a puriilani- 
 mous and bale fpirit, is to llruggle ag,;in!l, 
 to cenlure the order ot Providence, anu, 
 inltead of mending our ov.n conduct, ta 
 let up for correcting that of our makiT. 
 
 T II K E N D.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 IXM Angela 
 This book is 1)1' I", on the last date stamped below. 
 
 
 UL fjiEC 6 1976 
 
 KCTIO^ 
 
 DEC 1 1 1962 
 
 
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